Over the course of the past several months, Mr. Jim Butz has dedicated his time to the role of C.S. Lewis in the play Freud’s Last Session by Mark St. Germain. Butz demonstrates unwavering devotion to accurately portraying his character by studying the history, memorizing lines, and finding deeper meaning to the text. On stage, Butz transforms from a high school teacher to a young, unsure, newly found christian author and philosopher who is still unsure about himself and his faith. The actor finds himself caught up in a heated discussion with Sigmund Freud, an outspoken German atheist, played by Barry Mulhollond eight shows a week.

The play is only one act, and takes place in Freud’s office, where he has invited Lewis for tea on September 3rd, 1939. Ironically, this is the same day that Great Britain declares war on Nazi Germany. Despite the fact that this play is only an hour and twenty minutes with no intermission, it is packed with intense and enthralling debates between the two characters. The play takes place during a time in which Freud was nearing the end of his life due to oral cancer, and historically died two weeks later, right as WWII was getting into full swing.

Faith, religion, the meaning behind love, philosophy and the meaning of life are all topics that arise throughout the show. Freud’s basis for all of his questions for Lewis center around the idea of christianity and why he stands firm on his beliefs through a religious basis. Lewis describes love as,”When the two people who thus discover that they are on the same secret road are of different sexes, the friendship which arises between them will very easily pass – may pass in the first half hour – into erotic love.”

Butz, an alumni of Webster University returns to perform yet again, in its own Sally S. Levy Opera Center’s black box theatre. The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis’s directors and producing staff  begin to plan out the classic story and how they will go about showcasing it. Over the course of the evening, audience members are on the edge of their seats, soaking in every word said and reflecting on the thoughts and ideas the two characters discuss.

When asked what he thought of C.S. Lewis, Butz explained, “He is revered; he’s a legend. I know all my Christian friends are coming and they’re looking for something (in Lewis), a certain je ne sais quoi. I feel kind of self-conscious,” said Butz.

C.S. Lewis is humble; not so much priding himself in his faith, but admitting to the fact that he doesn’t have all the answers, and is heavily dependent on what he believes to be true.

Overall, this play was something out of the ordinary. A fresh twist was taken on an old play; giving it a new spin off of the same lines that have been said thousands of times. From the acting ability, to the lighting and costumes, the entire production was flawlessly strung together with accuracy and precision. This play has provided audience members with insight into two of the greatest philosophical minds of our time.