Jonestown

Jim Jones demanded commitment from his people of "Jonestown." I knew I needed it when I sought to obtain a ticket for "Jonestown." There are only twenty tickets available for each show. There is significance to the number of tickets sold. The only hint I will give you is that a careful Internet search of the Jonestown Massacre should reveal it. The location is also a secret, but don't worry; an e-mail will be sent to each ticket purchaser the morning of the scheduled performance.

"Jonestown," is the shocking and compelling true story of the Jonestown massacre that took place in the jungles of Guyana in 1978. The show is a hybrid of improvisational, scripted and curated materials compiled from actual FBI transcripts of the tragedy. "Jonestown" is a re-enactment of the final days of the Peoples' Temple cult that led to the slaughter and mass suicide of 909 followers led by Jim Jones.

The production is the brainchild of curator/director Troy Heard of Table 8 Productions and co-directed by Erik Amblad. The show mixes elements of pop-up theatre, experimental theatre and audience participation to create a living documentary feel.

Your theatre experience begins as soon as you arrive. When you step out of your car you have stepped into and become part of the show. You are new followers of the Reverend Jim Jones. Members of the Jones family will give you an envelope for your commitment to the Peoples' Temple Agricultural Project.

The family members will lead you to a campfire where you will meet the other members of the family. At the campfire you will introduce yourselves and be introduced to the family: Laura Cornelious (Audrei Kairen), Louvie (Melanie Bryn), Christine (Valerie Carpenter-Bernstein), Harvey Milk (Bob Gratix), Marshall Kilduff (John C. Hughes), Rev. Kinsolver (Myles Morgan), Timothy Stoen (Matt Phillips), Birdie Marabel (Natalie Senecal). The family leads you in songs and hymns accompanied by guitar.

Each cast member takes a turn testifying to the saving graces and miracles of Reverend Jim Jones. The cult members speak of the reverend in creepily glowing and loving terms. They promise the new family members that they will be astounded when they meet their 'father' or 'daddy' as they lovingly refer to the cult leader.

Set changes require movement, but none of it is strenuous. As each scene changes, cult members lead you to the next set. Each set is mere steps from the last set, but set far enough away that is springs out of the darkness when the lights go up. The indoor/outdoor sets are managed by Kat Winston.

The second scene is the Peoples' Temple church in San Francisco. Patrons are led by cult members into a church set up in a building behind the campfire. There they are introduced to the charismatic, frenetic, clearly insane cult leader Jim Jones (Scott McAdam). McAdam is a one-man show with his fiery, hypnotic and frightening portrayal of Jones. McAdam preaches sermons that begin with promises of provision, safety and utopia.

The sermons are peppered with recitations by cast members of letters, newspaper and magazine articles, press releases and other documents. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear Jones is exerting more and more control over his parishioners and is gaining power and influence among local politicians as he builds his cult kingdom.

Patrons are led to the compound for the final scene, where McAdams and the other cast members recreate the final hours of the lives of the cult leader and the cult members. Cult members frantically plead with Jones and each other leading up to the fateful decision to end their lives.

One by one they speak supporting or questioning Jones' decision to commit mass suicide and react to events as Jonestown reaches its fateful end.

"Jonestown" runs thru Nov. 8 at undisclosed locations in Las Vegas. For information or tickets, visit www.Table8lv.com