Shawn Says: The Luminaries Shines the Light on Madcap Mayhem

Reviewed by Shawn Maus for the League of Cincinnati Theatres

Divine Comedy with a Doomsday Twist

If Mel Brooks rewrote the Books of Job and Revelation with a little help from Aristophanes and a dash of Monty Python—The Luminaries might be what you’d get. Written by Northern Idaho resident Jesse Hampsch and directed with sharp comic precision by Torie Pate, this script-in-progress is an apocalyptic avalanche of humor, heart, and hilarity.

A staged reading as part of the Cincinnati LAB Theatre’s 2025 New Works Festival, The Luminaries gleefully mashes up Greek mythology, Christian prophecy, and end-of-the-world cult tropes with a tone that recalls a Kaufman-Hart screwball romp of the 1930s. It’s fast, it’s fearless, and it doesn’t care about being polite. Which is exactly what makes it sing.

The Cast (AKA Comedy Gold)

• Angela Alexander as Carol and multiple characters – Her vocal range and timing are pure gold, switching roles with a flair reminiscent of classic radio theatre.

• Ed Cohen as Clark and others – Brought a warm, vintage energy that echoed Disney legend Phil Harris.

• Kyle D. Taylor as American Jesus – Delivers with deadpan brilliance and heroic swagger.

• Eric Kilpatrick as Dr. Diogenes Hart – A perfect comedic foil. Together with Taylor, they’re one of the best buddy comedy duos I’ve seen this year.

• Kat Reynolds as Surely the Cult Leader – Owns the stage with a goofy confidence that’s part performance art, part pure joy. (Just don’t call her Shirley – sorry, I had to go there because this script just makes you want to.)

This cast got it. The jokes landed. The chaos never felt out of control. And even when the tone flirted with full-on absurdity, the characters stayed rooted in something real—which is no small feat.

Faith, Folly, and Flat-Out Funny

“People who don’t have doubt are fooling themselves.” That line stuck with me. Because beneath all the madness—end times, ancient gods, and divine memes—The Luminaries asks real questions about belief, blind faith, and what we cling to when the world feels like it’s ending. It’s a carnival of comedic energy we need these days.

There’s simultaneous action (as you can envision in your mind during a reading), whip-smart one-liners, and an energetic pulse that keeps everything flying but never lost. It’s dense, it’s wild, and it’s definitely not your Sunday school story.

A Work in Progress Worth Watching

This is exactly the kind of script the New Works Festival was built to showcase. It's daring, big-hearted, and unafraid to make a mess while making you laugh. Under Torie Pate’s direction, the rhythm of this staged reading hit every beat a great stage comedy should. And that’s no small thing.

Shawn Says... The Luminaries lit the fuse, left us in joyful ruins, and burned bright for one glorious night—but the stage is still hot with new stories. Get to CLT’s New Works Festival before the curtain falls. This is where tomorrow’s theater begins.

The Cincinnati LAB Theatre’s New Works Festival runs Thursday, July 24 through July 26, 2025, featuring three fully staged productions. Each performance is a sneak peek into a play’s evolution—and your presence helps shape what it becomes.

Grab your tickets online at cincylabtheatre.wixsite.com or at the door. Want to see it all and save a little cash? Snag an All-Access Pass and experience the full festival.