The great problem in the theater world, the thing that gives artistic directors ulcers as they gaze upon one Baby Boomer-and-up audience after another, is this: How do you get kids raised on 24/7 cable, the Internet, instant-access movies and the like to understand that going to the right play can be interesting, entertaining, even thrilling?

Those desperately seeking answers would do well to check out The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, a production by the edgy young company Ground Up & Rising, a professional troupe that uses the theater space at Miami Dade College's Kendall campus.

Stephen Adly Guirgis' sprawling, ambitious play is attracting audiences that mirror the company itself: young, ethnically and racially diverse, intellectually curious. Given the 15-actor cast size and economics of small theater, the production is heading into the final weekend of a too-short run. Do, if you love good acting and theater that gives your gray matter a jolt, make haste to Kendall.

A 2005 script by the provocative author of Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train and Our Lady of 121st Street, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot puts the guy who sold out Jesus on trial. For much of the play (which could, admittedly, use some trimming), an almost catatonic Judas (Jose Paredes) sits or kneels silently in front of the stage. Behind him, in a trashed subway station in purgatory, his eternal fate gets debated.

The play's mix of characters comes from the Bible, history books and Guirgis' imagination. Presiding is Judge Littlefield (a delightfully irascible George Schiavone), a ''hanging judge'' in a different sense: At the end of the Civil War, Littlefield committed suicide by stringing himself up, and he's been hanging around purgatory ever since.

The Devil's Advocate is Yusef El-Fayoumy (a flamboyant Carlos Alayeto), a butt-kissing prosecutor whose last name is gleefully mispronounced ''El Fajita'' (by the judge) and ''El Flamingo'' (by Satan himself). Defending Judas, arguing for redemption and forgiveness, is Fabiana Aziza Cunningham (the intense Kameshia Duncan), a passionate agnostic.

Standouts in the vast cast are a dazzling Lela Elam as the trash-talking, Judas-tormenting St. Monica; Sheaun McKinney as a charismatic, silver-tongued Satan; Bechir Sylvain as a vain Pontius Pilate; Reggie Beaubrun as a streetwise St. Peter; and Arnaldo Carmouze in back-to-back impressive turns as Sigmund Freud, Caiaphas the Elder and St. Thomas.

Join the discussion

Note: If this is your first time using our NEW commenting system, you will have to LOG OUT and then LOG BACK IN.

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of MiamiHerald.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

     Showing: Oldest first Newest first Most-recommended first Least-recommended first

@Nyx.AuthorDisplayName@ wrote on @Nyx.PostedAtTime@:

@Nyx.CommentBody@

@Nyx.Recommender@ @Nyx.AbuseReporter@