Review: Epic and Bold SAMSON Premieres at Sight & Sound Theatres

Celebrating its 40th year of bringing Biblical stories to life onstage in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania area, Sight & Sound Theatres premiered its 27th original show last week. SAMSON - which was three and a half years in the making - offers the technical thrills and massive sets that one might expect from a Sight & Sound production - but even more importantly, it more than adequately brings to life the familiar story of a man who, like many of us, has to learn to trust in God and His plan, no matter how crazy and challenging it might initially seem. Samson learns firsthand of God's grace even when he goes off the path he should stay on, and how, only with God's help, can he can achieve what God wants from him using the special gifts that his Creator gave to him. While God granted him physical strength, manifested through his hair, Samson has to realize that all he has comes from God.

Under the direction of Jeff Bender (who also wrote the play), the epic story of "the original superhero" emerges before the audiences with the help of some very talented performers with Broadway caliber voices. From the principals to the hardworking ensemble, the cast is uniformly solid and works together quite well to create a winning product. Whether the ensemble is performing a choral musical number like "Philistia Brave and Strong" (Jeff Bender and Darren Ingram) or capturing everyday life in Samson's hometown, it excels.

As Samson, Michael Niederer is appropriately cocky yet wary of God's plan for his life as a young man. As Samson ages, loses his loving father Manoah (Tom Sharpes, who serves as the narrator), gets entangled with Delilah (usually Julie Marie Sturycz, but played by Allie McCaw at the performance I attended opening weekend), and finally accepts that he needs to fulfill God's plan of defeating the Philistines, Niederer is supremely successful at navigating the myriad of conflicting and messy emotions that Samson experiences. His strong baritone voice is a particular asset to "What Is This Grace?" (Sarah Mentzer and Tim Paul), which is one of the most moving and best orchestrated (David Shipps) musical numbers in the show. The role is essentially a test of endurance - both physically and emotionally - and Niederer handles it well.

Other performers also make an impression.

While some of the narration can get a bit heavy-handed, particularly in the first act, Sharpes proves to be an adept narrator as Manoah recalls Samson's trials, tribulations, and successes. His natural chemistry with Niederer ensures that the father-son bond is believable, which is crucial to many aspects of the story. Sharpes, also a strong singer, navigates his many musical numbers with considerable ease. Along with Tricia Bridgeman, who plays Samson's mother Zeleponi, the three make for a believable family unit. One of the most encouraging parts of the story, I think, is when Zeleponi reveals how an angel came to her before Samson was born and laid out the rules he must follow to ensure God's plan for his life came to fruition. The way that Zeleponi keeps her commitment to fulfill these vows - like her son, not eating grapes, staying away from the deceased etc. - and embraces God's will for her life no matter how challenging, is nicely expressed through Bridgeman's quiet, but compelling performance.

Whether one attends church every Sunday and knows the Bible inside and out or not, most can probably associate the seductress Delilah with Samson. McCaw's performance captures the many facets of Delilah, both her outward seduction and her inner struggles. With a stunning voice that reverberates throughout the 2000 seat theatre, McCaw proves to not only be a masterful singer, but interpreter of lyrics. The solo number, "Freedom," (John Doryk and Sarafina Bailey) where Delilah grapples with the choice to sell Samson out for personal gain, is sensational not only from a musical perspective, but also as an exercise in personal storytelling. The playful chemistry she has with Niederer also makes "Someone Like Me" (John Doryk and Sarafina Bailey) a fun number to watch and hear even if, musically, it doesn't quite jive with much of the rest of the score. The song essentially explores how both Samson and Delilah feel like misfits. This common bond is important to appreciate how Samson and Delilah's relationship gets to where it ends up, and the two actors do a great job in conveying their characters' inner feelings and knowledge that they're probably going to end up doing something they shouldn't be doing.

Another standout is Jacob Cumming as Samson's nemesis, King Gaza, the leader of the Philistines (the role is usually played by Chris Faith, but Cumming played the role at the performance I attended). Short in stature, but mighty in many other ways, Cumming perfectly captures the Napoleon-like villain with strong singing and acting.

While many of the individual musical numbers are definite theatrical highlights - even if the score is less cohesive than one might hope, likely thanks to the involvement of multiple composers - so too are the technical aspects of the production. In comparison to previous Sight & Sound productions, SAMSON, I would argue, uses more projection, but there are several examples of how it is used in an artful way. The best example is probably the scene where Samson comes face to face with a lion. Impressive lighting, detailed costumes, fun choreography (Wally Calderon) and massive sets that tower up to 28 feet high, ensure this production is a feast for the eyes. The horses, pigs, dogs - and even, of all things, a water buffalo - add a bit of amusement as well. While the best technical selling point comes late in act two - it won't be spoiled here, but let's just say they handle the destruction of the Philistine temple in a way that surprised even this most jaded theatergoer - the whole show is technically impressive. With a few more performances, the technical maneuverings are likely to get even tighter and smoother.

In sum, I would rack SAMSON up as another strong outing for Sight & Sound Theatres. What it offers is incredibly unique and important. No one has to sell me on the importance of bringing Bible stories to life in a way that's accessible to audiences in search of entertainment AND a fulfilling spiritual experience due to the way I was raised and my own personal faith. Yet, I would argue that what this theatre offers is something more than an entertainment opportunity for a niche audience. From a theatrical standpoint, it is top-notch. So, even if religion isn't your thing, there's something to appreciate.

Running Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes with one intermission.

SAMSON plays at Sight & Sound Theatres - Lancaster County through December 31, 2016. The theatre is located at 300 Hartman Bridge Road in Ronks, Pennsylvania. For tickets and schedule information, visit www.sight-sound.com.

Photo: Courtesy of Sight & Sound Theatres

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