Austin grad returns to perform one-man show
Published 12:01 pm Saturday, November 11, 2017
- Joshua Larson will perform “John’s Divine Comedy,” on Nov. 16 at the Austin Public Library. The Austin High School graduate is a freelance actor and musician and is active in Twin Cities theater. Photo provided
Joshua Larson, a 1995 graduate of Austin High School, will return to his hometown at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 16, to perform a one-man show entitled, “John’s Divine Comedy,” at the Austin Public Library.
Larson, 40, a Twin Cities-based actor and musician, also wrote the one-hour show, a comedy based on Euripides’ “Medea” — a tale, Larson writes with tongue-in-cheek, that is “too large to be kept on a tablet.”
The show follows the Greek hero Jason, who rises to fame and fortune with Medea, the sorceress, through a series of bad deeds that lands them the throne to the Greek city of Iolcus, and the famed golden fleece. Their success doesn’t last long, as Jason leaves Medea for another woman, she kills her children in a fit of rage, and Jason dies when the stern of his ship falls on him.
The twist is that the show re-imagines Jason’s fate, as the narrator — John — testifies as to how he escaped his fate as Jason and was spiritually reborn as the Christian John.
Joshua Larson. Photo provided
Larson said the show is the third in a series of musical shows that study the human condition and spirit. “John’s Divine Comedy” follows “The Tragedy of Icarus” and “JESUS CHRIST EX MACHINA,” all performed at different times at the Minnesota Fringe Festival, as well as other venues.
Larson said the shows have helped him come to terms with his own real life tragedy — the death of a brother many years ago.
He is quick to note, however, “that the show isn’t a ‘Christian’ show” in the sense that it can only be appreciated by people of the Christian faith.
“The whole goal of this show is to entertain,” he said. And, despite the sometimes-dramatic themes, the show is a comedy with 14 musical selections.
The performance is free, and will be followed by a brief question and answer session.
Larson, who lives in St. Louis Park, is a freelance actor, writer and musician who has performed in several productions in the Cities, including the Old Log Theatre, the Stages Theater, Theater in the Round, the MN Jewish Theatre; and the Jon Hassler Theatre in Plainview.
He owns Suburban Cowboy Productions and the Talent Poole, a talent agency. He holds a bachelor’s degree in theatre from Southwest Minnesota State University.
Deb Nicklay can be reached at deb.nicklay@austindailyherald.com
