by Laura Kressly

Carl and Jason, like many millennials, are special. Or rather, they’ve been told they are in their formative years. The two have grown up clinging to that knowledge as the world has bombarded them with rubbish. When they each receive a mysterious leaflet telling them they’re the chosen one, they both buy it without question.

But they both can’t be the son of God. It’s just not possible for there to be two of them. So they try to figure out who is the real messiah as men would – by competing with each other and trying to win. Dry in their delivery with a masculine bravado driving their actions, the two men are largely stereotypical depictions of middle class white men. This choice largely works within what turns out to be a feminist plot progression that gently mocks self-absorbed hipster bros. 

Music and flashbacks break up the straightforward narrative that rings with the influence of Kevin Smith films. There are effective shifts between humour and emotional honesty, though they are often underlined by ironic delivery – this quickly becomes wearing. The script is largely sound, but there’s a gap in the exposition as to the precise circumstances that led them to this place, or where it is they are. A third arrival fills in some contextual holes and adds genuine feeling to the snarky tone the lads take. 

Though the story itself isn’t particularly sophisticated, the form approaches gig theatre and the themes help make it more dynamic. With a bit more textual flesh, the structure would better match the ideas behind it.

2nd Coming. Again runs through 23 August.

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