The Opening — D.G. Farnsworth

Theater and art can be viewed as a form of religion. The live event of theater can be seen in the light of a spiritual service, ceremony, and ritual. Both theater drama and religion thrive on ambiguity. Some truths may only be witnessed in the dark; and embracing the darkness is sometimes required to stop it. Vampire horse trainer Rodrigo García Olza, his two brothers, and equine sidekick, Micah, often feel compelled to thank someone, blame someone -- and realize this is the notion of God and the Devil. Like most others, they cannot wholeheartedly believe that everything that happens to them is their own doing. Lately, the biblical tale they recall from their childhood about The Tower of Babel, Babylon, its relation to Fallen Angels, and Apocalypse prophecy seems to be creeping into their lives regularly now. What doe it all mean? A mysterious, eccentric, wealthy New York theater director builds a theater in their town, and beckons Livingston, Rodrigo, Triston, Micah, and Clarisse to employ their creative talents to takeover the production. They like the idea of theater as a possible substitute for many people who have been hurt by organized religion: that the opportunity for transcendence and community established in theater replaces religion. Could the Antichrist be living among them today? The whole idea of blood being shed to give another eternal life mirrors vampire lore. Legend amongst the Hebrew people speaks of Judas Iscariot, betrayer of Christ, as the original vampire...