Writer: Michael R. Speciàle
Musical Direction: Jeremiah Ginn
Part stand-up, part cabaret, and part radical sermon, Bottoming for Jesus is an incredible, deeply vulnerable piece of autobiographical theatre. Michael R Speciàle transforms the venue into a queer church of longing, doubt, and self-discovery as he recounts converting himself to Mormonism as a closeted teenager in the Pacific Northwest.
The production opens with Speciàle welcoming the audience as his congregation, announcing our collective mission: to summon the saintly spirit of Judy Garland. Generous community-building exercises punctuate the performance. Keeping the house lights up, Speciàle encourages us to introduce ourselves to strangers and share personal worries, creating a warm, shared atmosphere in the room.
A striking moment of artistic kenosis follows, as audience members read out and tear up real entries from Speciàle’s teenage journals, scattering the fragments back at him. However, the musical numbers yield mixed results. While an opening Judy Garland classic and traditional hymns resonate thematically, a rendition of Avenue Q’s Purpose feels tonally jarring against the show’s introspective core.
At times, the production suffers from an identity crisis, wrestling between TED Talk, stand-up, and musical theatre without fully deciding on its primary audience. Nevertheless, Speciàle’s raw honesty ensures this remains an unforgettable story. It is a brave, deeply memorable exploration of faith and identity that lingers long after the final bow.
Runs until 30 August 2026 | Image: Contributed
