Tempest Landrys having an amazingly bad day. While tying to navigate concurrent phone calls from his wife and his girlfriend, hes killed by the police, who have mistaken him for someone else. Tempest finds himself before the gates of heaven, where Saint Peter informs him hes not coming in. Tempest refuses to accept the judgment -- free will cuts both ways -- and is returned to earth under the watchful eyes of Joshua, a heavenly functionary who is to convince Tempest that he deserves a hot afterlife. But the upstandingly moral Joshua soon discovers theres quite a bit to covet here on earth -- like say, Bronwyn, lady friend of the dead-and-back Joshua. Walter Mosleys drama The Fall of Heaven examines the ideas of free will, livin the good life vs. living a good life and the eternal lure of love and carnal temptation. The Repertory Theatre of Saint Louis presents The Fall of Heaven Tuesday through Sunday (January 6 through 30) on the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center (130 Edgar Road; 314-968-4925 or www.repstl.org). Tickets are $15 to $70. On Thursday, January 6, Mr. Mosely will be in the lobby from 5 to 7 p.m. for a book signing; only books purchased through Puddnhead Books or the Rep will be signed.
Tuesdays-Sundays. Starts: Jan. 6. Continues through Jan. 30, 2011