He can't talk to Jesus

>>But Ryan  Paulson casts a holy spell
on his audience with his one-man
show Pentecostal Wisconsin

What do you do when, your whole life, you’ve been told to expect something, and it never comes? In Pentecostal Wisconsin, which kicked off the Wildside festival last week, Ryan Paulson has a couple of choices: he can keep his inability to talk to Jesus a secret, assuming he’s just not pure enough or trying hard enough, or he can question everything he’s been taught at Assembly of God Pentecostal Church in Au Clair, Wisconsin.

Pentecostal Wisconsin, this appealing performer’s one-man show, is all about the journey from confused teen trying desperately to pick up the Saviour’s frequency to young adult finding his own way in the world, still willing to pick up “the call” if ever God decides to place it. With the help of director and developer Virginia Scott, Paulson has beautifully shaped his personal stories about a “strange and uncomfortable” world. The people of Au Clair are descended from uptight Scandinavians, but belong to a church that believes in throwing one’s hands up to the ceiling and speaking in tongues. Paulson is hilarious on the discomfort of the rest of the congregation when one of their number goes off on such a tangent. According to their religion, another member of the congregation will be given the “translation” of the message in tongues to share with the group. All they can think is, “Please Lord, don’t pick me

adorable Paulson walks out on stage strumming a guitar and singing, we are captivated. He moves on from authentic church selections like “You Can’t Get to Heaven in the Lutheran Church” to songs of his own composition including the almost unbearably touching “I Can’t Talk to Jesus (But I Can Talk to You),” which recounts the awkward intimacy of two teens in Youth Group. Paulson calls himself a comedian, but that doesn’t mean he shies away from the emotional moments. Directly addressing the audience with the houselights half up, he flows seamlessly from actor to comedian to folkie and back. Pentecostal Wisconsin is a perfect little show.

Psychiatric Thriller

It’s been a long wait, but The Elephant Song has finally found its way home. Nicolas Billon’s play, which had its first public reading at infinitheatre in 2002, was subsequently produced at Stratford. It opens tonight in an infinitheatre mainstage production at the Bain St-Michel (5300 St-Dominique). A sort of psychological mystery set in a psychiatric hospital, it begins with the disappearance of a certain Dr. Lawrence. The head doctor must try to get to the bottom of the mystery by interviewing Michael, one of Lawrence’s patients and the last person to see him. Michael is more interested in leading the good doctor down the garden path with stories of elephants and opera. Directed by Guy Sprung, the show features Julie Tamiko Manning, Howard Rosenstein and Gianpaolo Venuta, and runs until Feb. 11, $20–$25, (514) 987-1774, ext. 3