Thank consumerism, the reverend is back!
Perhaps it’s a good thing that Rev. Billy — a.k.a. Windsor Terrace performance artist Bill Talen — got only one percent of the vote for mayor this year. Otherwise, he’d be preparing for his swearing in rather than for his latest performance piece: “Blessed are the Jobless! Blessed are the Broke!” next Saturday.
Of course, the same 40-person choir will be on hand to back up Talen as he regales the faithful with his old religion: stop shopping, spend more time with your family and stay away from the “Devil’s monoculture: big box stores and chains.”
Talen says he won’t stop ’til every last shopping bag drops. The good news is that the recession is a mixed blessing.
“We don’t have as much money as we want to so we are being creative as a result,” Talen said. “Creativity coming out of the pain and suffering is good.”
Humor is Talen’s medium, but he says that comedy is the only way to get his “don’t-buy, get creative” message across these days.
“Are you buying less ’cause you’re broke, or is it because you’re being creative this year? It’s both at the same time,” Talen said. “If you’re gonna do deep work like this, you gotta have fun.”
Rev. Billy and the Church of Life After Shopping at the Brooklyn Lyceum [227 Fourth Ave. between President and Sackett streets in Park Slope, (718) 857-4816], Saturday, Dec. 12, 8 pm. Tickets, $10. For info, visit www.revbilly.com.
