PLAYWRIGHT TELLS 'TALES' ABOUT GOD, RELATIONSHIPS

Nadine Goff For the State Journal

Imagine God has been on vacation for almost 2,000 years, out of touch, unaware of what's been happening on Earth. Upon his return, God decides he is extremely unhappy with what he sees. So he decides to destroy Earth. That's the initial premise of writer/director Brian Wild's new play, ''Tales for a Millennium,'' currently being performed at Broom Street Theater.

In the play, the task of persuading God to change his mind falls to Jesus and St. Peter, who have been serving as interim caretakers.

This heavenly trio is joined by 47 other characters in what Broom Street artistic director, Joel Gersmann, calls ''a wacky comedy with a hopeful ending'' and playwright Wild says is ''a rare, uplifting Broom Street play.'' A cast of 10 will play all 50 roles.

''The play is really about relationships and how we deal with each other,'' says Wild. ''I just happen to be using biblical characters as a metaphor.''

The death of his mother in December 1996 had a strong influence on the final script, says Wild. ''A year and a half ago, it would a been a very different play.''

Shortly before she died, Wild says, his mother asked him, ''Why can't you just be happy?''

Answering her question and sorting out the implications of his answers was a very important experience for Wild.

As a result of this experience he says, ''There's a lot of my philosophy of life in the play.''

''There is good in the world. Sometimes you just can't see it because of the clutter.'' Noting the importance of fostering community on every level, Wild says the play is also a ''thank you to the people who brought casseroles'' after his mother's death.

''Tales for a Millennium'' marks Wild's debut as a playwright and director. His previous work at Broom Street includes acting, composing music and sound design.

Although he'd taken a script-writing course in college and produced 30 pages, Wild believed he'd never be able to write a full-length play.

''I was pushed by the fact I had to do it,'' says Wild. He had been discussing ideas for a play with Gersmann for some time when, ''out of the blue last year Joel announced that a play by me was on the schedule.''

The play was ''three-quarters done'' by the time auditions were held, says Wild. But he didn't finish writing it until 10:10 p.m. July 11, a few hours short of two weeks before it was scheduled to open.

''I've always been known to take on big projects,'' says Wild. ''I whine and moan through the whole process. And then when it's over, I find out the experience wasn't so bad after all.''