The Trials and Tribulations of Staggerlee Booker T. Brown

The play begins in the Nite Life bar, where one of the denizens recounts the tale of the Reverend Booker T. Brown, a good-hearted preacher of middle years who finds himself smitten by the charms of a nubile young parishioner. His temptation is put to the test when Big Red (better know as the devil) offers him a proposition: all the money he can spend plus the favors of his desired, in exchange for which the Reverend must sign away his soul. He agrees—but then recants—which leads to the central action of the piece, an hilarious play-within-a-play in which all the actors appear in double roles as good and evil clash with the Reverend's immortal soul hanging in the balance. It is touch and go for a while, yet all works out happily in the end—but not before a joyous good time is had by audiences and actors alike.