The title, The Butterfingers Angel, Mary& Joseph, Herod the Nut & The Slaughter of 12 Hit Carols in a Pear Tree, suggested to me that this was a slap-stick version of the nativity, or a play within a play. The play, and Ed Shea's vision of it, are much more cerebral story than the title suggests.
The play explores the impact the virgin birth has on Mary (Gabby Sherba) and Joseph (
Vince Petronio) as people. Most nativity stories present Mary and Joseph as divine beings that are moved around like pieces on a chess board.
In Gibson's narrative, The Butterfingers Angel (Dillion Medina), replaces the archangel Gabriel. This angel bears little resemblance to the all-powerful angel of the nativity story. This bumbling angel just wants to do his job, and do his best. He hasn't the confidence that he will be able to convince Mary that she should become a wife and mother of god, instead of being a modern woman. Once the Angel does convince Mary to embrace her divine fate, it is Mary that has to convince Joseph.
In a clever take on the story, the Angel is too afraid to approach Joseph, an aging bachelor who is sweet on Mary. The Angel, instead, appears to Joseph in a dream, and leaves the real work (i.e. manipulation of Joseph) to the indefatigable Mary.
The couple travel to Bethlehem to pay their taxes to Herod (Bob Colonna), who also plays The Man in Grey, presumably the Devil. As The Man in Grey, Colonna conveys an omniscience, and involvement at every turn. God, on the other hand, is absent. Because the Angel does not feel the presence of God, he constantly questions his own convictions and role in the birth of Christ. I found this story line to be incredibly relevant, with the recent publications of Mother Theresa writings. For decades, Mother Theresa did God's work, while constantly questioning his existence. Powerful stuff.
During Mary and Joseph's travels, the Angel follows from afar, so as not to agitate Joseph, who is not convinced that Mary's pregnancy is divine. The scatterbrained Angel books the couple in the 'bridle' suite, which it turns out is the stable where the bridles are kept.
As indicated by the play's title, the cast sings the carol that best fits the moment. The wise men (
Tom Bentley, Jon Brennan, Kevin Delaney) sing 'We Three Kings' as they search for the Christ child.
Isabel O'Donnell provides a good deal of the evening's humor as the Tree. O'Donnell wears a moss-inspired evening gown with matching opera gloves. Her Tree has seen entire lives from beginning to end and watched the world walk by. O'Donnell beautifully captures the Tree's world-weary wit.
As is necessary in a nativity story, there are barnyard animals, played in this production by young actors. There is a Donkey (Evan Kinnane), a Cow (Eileen Kinnane), a Mouse (Patricia Kinnane) and a Sheep (Owen Newsome). The children are cute, but not cloying.
Tristan Jeffers' set design is minimal, as is the lighting, which evokes a traditional, Church-based, nativity story.
The acting and direction in this production are solid. The leads, Sherba, Petronio, and Medina do a great job of injecting the Gibson's wry humor, while keeping it the play from becoming blatantly, irreverent. The singing, with little if any accompaniment, is lovely.
The Butterfingers Angel, Mary& Joseph, Herod the Nut & The Slaughter of 12 Hit Carols in a Pear Tree at 2nd Story Theatre in Warren, RI has been extended through December 23rd. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 3:00 p.m. For tickets, call the Box Office at 401-247-4200.Visit www.2ndstorytheatre.com for more information.
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