‘Bus Ride Home’ Searches for God

At one point in the first act in “70 Dollars to a Bus Ride Home,” at the Hudson Avenue Theatre, Brett Rickaby addresses the audience in a short soliloquy on prayer, and any confusion about the intent of this so-called “spiritual thriller” is allayed. This isn’t a cautionary tale about abduction and brainwashing, nor is it a Christian-bashing diatribe. Rickaby’s play is a sardonic look at one man’s search for faith in God that entangles him with hard-core Christians, but ultimately leads him to question his life choices.

Matt (Rickaby) is living an actor’s uncertain life in New York. His dialogues with God are limited to prayers for getting great acting jobs. He uses his ex-girlfriend for sexual relief and works as a waiter.

Through an old college friend Eric (Eric Lange), Matt becomes increasingly involved in a Christian group. Yet the structure of support built by this religious community slowly becomes a web of responsibility and accountability.

Steve Benson directs with fluidity and an air of cautious respect. The disciples aren’t raving lunatics or one-note automatons. They are people with spiritual needs, seeking fellowship and fulfillment.

Except for Rickaby, the rest of the cast moves easily between multiple roles on Dereck Delallata’s effectively spare set. Rickaby, with deadpan charm, seamlessly breaks from the scenes into wry first-person commentary.

As a writer, Rickaby has an easygoing style with enough skepticism for comic relief and introspection. He doesn’t offer great pronouncements of enlightenment, but simply one man’s gently humorous story.

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* “70 Dollars to a Bus Ride Home,” Hudson Avenue Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7 p.m. Ends Oct. 11. $20. (323) 856-4200. Running time: 2 hours, 40 minutes.