To paraphrase Judy Blume, are you there, St. Louis? It’s Me, God.
God’s decided to return to St. Louis, not that He ever left, but it seems He’s doing some revisions of the Ten Commandments. To make Himself manifest to us, He explains, He’s appearing as an actor named Alan Knoll. And that’s just the beginning these next couple of weeks at The New Jewish Theatre, where they’re presenting An Act of God.
Essentially a one-man/two-archangel show, Knoll has a fine time explaining it all to us, in a manner Sister Mary Ignatius could only envy. (Bonus points if you recall that St. Louis theatre contretemps.) Not that he’s harsh, he’s just outspoken. And funny. Very funny, although with a considerable edge – for instance, he calls the Book of Job an absolute hoot. There’s a fine, logical explanation of what really happened with the flood and that boat. One could go on, but it would spoil the fun.
His archangels are Gabriel, mostly calm and patient, played by Amanda Wales, and Michael, played by Cassidy Flynn, who works the audience like Jonathan Mangum of “Let’s Make a Deal” but in hyper mode.
Josh Smith did the set and lighting design, the latter being particularly potent in evoking things. Amanda Were’s sound design balances things well. But God’s robe, from Michele Siler, in which he swans about and then has to bundle up to sit down with any ease at all, is deeply remarkable.
Edward Coffield, New Jewish’s artistic director directs this romp, which has no intermission.
Just because this review is brief doesn’t mean this isn’t ninety minutes of laughs and some thought-provoking questions.
An Act of God
through December 16th
The New Jewish Theatre
Marvin & Harlene Wool Studio Theatre
Arts & Education Building
Jewish Community Center
2 Millstone Campus Drive
Your review is inaccurate as I am always in hyper mode. Thanks.
Jonathan Mangum
Posted by: Jonathan Mangum | February 10, 2019 at 03:37 PM