Put Down the Credit Card and Back Away

"Stop shopping!" is the constant ministration of Reverend Billy, a political-minded New York City performance art character. He doesn't want you to starve or suffer by not shopping; he just wants you to cut out the sport-spending and think about what you're doing. His signature white suit and blond pompadour bite style from right-wing televangelists, but the sermon isn't from the Bible: Today, it's titled "The Shopocalypse — The Reverend Has to Wonder." Count on Reverend Billy for a great show, shored up by rock-solid research on big-box stores and their economic effects, as well as spiritual observations about what those places do to you, to your soul. Sweat runs down Billy's temples as he screams "Change-a-leuia!"; often, he's accompanied by the Church of Stop Shopping Choir in their robes, swaying and declaiming, "I'm telling you my neighborhood is not for sale!" The choir won't be at the bookstore today, and he probably won't get arrested for exorcising the cash register, as he often does at Starbucks, but still — prepare to see the light and be saved.
Sun., Oct. 5, 5 p.m., 2008