Preacher man finds his Destiny on stage

Scott Wills plays Joshua Jones, the son of one of the world's greatest, wealthiest and most corrupt tele-evangelists. Photo / Supplied

Scott Wills is on first-name terms with Brian Tamaki. Not that the actor has ever met Destiny's main man, it's just that he feels like he knows him well after studying some of his sermons, mannerisms and moves for his latest role.

Wills plays the son of an evangelical preacher man in new one-man play Eulogy about the prophet, Joseph Jones.

The story goes that Jones was once one of the world's greatest and wealthiest tele-evangelists who fell from grace when some of his sordid secrets came out. But now he has passed away and you - the audience - are invited to his funeral.

As Jones's son Joshua, Wills, who was last seen as Saul on TV series The Cult, will be delivering the eulogy about his father's rise and fall.

So along the way, the play - written by Auckland writing team Colin Mitchell and Wade Jackson with music by Ruban Nielson of the Mint Chicks - takes a few satirical pokes at the meaning of life and the world of evangelical religion.

He believes Joshua's father started off as a good God-fearing man dedicated to the ideas of community, love and support. But then his desire and greed took over and with it came power, corruption and lies.

"Religion didn't corrupt him," says Wills, "he corrupted religion and twisted it to suit his needs. And it all sounds dark, and serious, and taking on the world, but it's a satire. I would call it a comedy."

Wills hopes it will spark debate and even extends an invitation to Bishop Brian to come along.

"I hope Brian comes. If I was the leader of that church and I preached what he preaches, I would come. If I was confident with who I am and what I'm doing, then I'd be open to intelligent debate."

It's not just Tamaki Wills has been gleaning know-how from to prepare for the role. He's been up early in the morning watching religious programming on TV, he's taken bits from toothy motivational speaker Tony Robbins and tele-evangelist Benny Hinn, and he's also studied orators, hypnotists and Las Vegas magicians.

He believes a lot of the time guys like Robbins and tele-evangelists use the power of suggestion and observation to get people on side. "Things like, 'Are you ready to change your life?'; 'Who here wants to be a millionaire?'. They answer 'Yes', so straightaway they are in.

"But," he says, "I'm not playing anybody. The play is not about Brian or anybody in particular."

Wills is quick to point out that he's not religious, yet it fascinates him. Although he's a little bemused about the idea of things like tithing.

"Yes, God did talk about wanting us to be rich, but I'm not too sure whether God wanted us to be filthy rich, and I know God definitely didn't want us to take from people who can't necessarily give."

And he finds it mystifying why people go to such extremes in the name of religion.

"From the point of view of a non-religious person, all of these religions as far as I know are based on the basic tenets of humanity and love, but sometimes there doesn't seem to be much evidence of that."

But, he says with a wry smile, religion has its place. "As human beings, we need answers as to why we're here and, also being a dad, you realise humans need guidelines, boundaries and rules to follow. We need parents to tell us what's good and bad-so I suppose Joseph and Mary are our parents."

What he's not so smiley about is the challenge the play has set him. Not only is it Wills' first piece of theatre in five years but, at 70 minutes long, it's a lot of lines for one person to deliver.

"It's petrifying. I've got lines running constantly in my head, I'm sleeping terribly, but it's one of the reasons I took it, for the challenge," he laughs.

"It's verbal gymnastics and I really want to give people that experience, and excitement of someone really working the words and rattle out this ocean of words.

"I just want to entertain people and give them 70 minutes of a good time, have a good laugh, and pray a little, sing a little - and give them a bit of evangelical preaching.

"I don't know if I'll reach the heights of Southern baptism or not, but I'll give it a go."

LOWDOWN

What: Eulogy, a new one-man play about megalomaniacal tele-evangelist Joseph Jones. Starring Scott Wills as his son Joshua Jones; written by Colin Mitchell and Wade Jackson; music by Ruban Nielson of the Mint Chicks
Where & when: Maidment Theatre, June 30 to July 16