Pure ‘Cotton’

Churchy bureaucrats and tiresome TV preachers are driving him nuts; a lynch mob’s got a noose with his name on it, and his Heavenly Father can’t do diddly ‘bout problems with the IRS.

What is a Savior to do?

That’s the rub in “Cotton Patch Gospel,” the story of Jesus of Georgia. This bluegrass-roots musical, adapted from Clarence Jordan’s book “The Cotton Patch Version of Matthew and John,” will be performed by the Troupe America touring company Saturday at Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton.

It stars actor Jay Nickerson and a four-man bluegrass band. Nickerson takes on nearly three dozen characters as he tells stories of Jesus’ birth, family life, political entanglements and spiritual teachings.

The onstage band--Pete Corum on bass, Bob Payne on banjo, Jared Lillis on guitar and Nicholas Burilini-Price on fiddle--takes on minor roles, all the while pickin’ and grinnin’ through the last tunes ever written by Harry Chapin (who died in a car wreck in 1981 while the original production was in rehearsal. Corum was in the original cast).

Chapin’s songs range from Mary and Joe’s gentle ballad “You Are Still My Boy” to the satirical “There Ain’t No Busy Signals on the Hotline to God” (sung by gospel musicians too caught up in their career to stop and help an injured traveler) to a hand clappin’, revival meetin’-style “Jubilation.”

In this Southern-fried version, Jesus is born to a virgin outside a motel in Gainseville, Ga. (no room at the Holiday Inn?) while his earthly parents are en route to Atlanta for an income tax audit. Young Jesus is raised by Mary and Joe along with a passel of brothers and sisters, but it isn’t long before he’s at the Big Guy’s work, debating with Bible-thumping preachers and generally raising such a ruckus among purveyors of organized religion that he is marked as a troublemaker.

The text takes some satirical jabs at shifty politicians and televangelists (a Jim-and-Tammy-like pair decry Jesus as being in league with the devil because he’s handing out the Good News for free). Otherwise, says director Curt Wollan, “Cotton Patch” has no particular ax to grind.

Still, “we have one or two walkouts at almost every show,” Wollan acknowledged. He said the stir usually comes when Nickerson (as St. Matthew) describes Jesus’ conception. “As soon as Jay says ‘And before Mary and Joe had sexual relations, and before Joe could get his letterman’s jacket back from her. . .’ boom! They’re out the door.”

Then again, the director pointed out, religion has always made folks a mite edgy.

“It’s a topic that has caused more wars, more ridiculous behavior than anything in history. It’s ironic, because the intent here is so positive. It’s just a simple message: Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Wollan said he thinks that wrapping gospel stories in bluegrass tunes and a contemporary Southern setting makes them more accessible to audiences of all ages. He puts “Cotton Patch” in the same league as “Godspell” and “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

Although Jesus’ death scene might be too intense for the very young, Wollan said children as young as 6 are absorbed by the show--thanks largely to Nickerson’s lightning-quick character changes.

“Watching Jay work is really fascinating,” said Wollan, noting that the actor relies on facial expressions, gestures and movement--not costumes--to define each role. “Every character he plays is distinct. It’s easy to stay with him at every step.”

Nickerson, whose credits include the Minnesota Shakespeare Co. and the “Unsolved Mysteries” TV series, feels the strength of “Cotton Patch Gospel” lies in the timelessness and universality of its stories.

“It doesn’t matter who or what you believe in,” Nickerson said. “You find your own spirituality in it . . . and walk away feeling good.”

BE THERE

Troupe America presents “Cotton Patch Gospel” Saturday at the Plummer Auditorium, 201 E. Chapman Ave., Fullerton. 8 p.m. $15--$20. (714) 773-3371.

* CHILDREN’S LISTINGS, Page 42