BWW Reviews: O MY GOD Offers Insightful Exam of Faith, Fear, Love and the Power of the Divine

Israeli playwright Anat Gov grew up in a country surrounded by other countries that wanted to blow her homeland out of existence. Perhaps living on the edge of destruction for so long enhanced her ability to face disaster with a sense of hope and laughter. Now being presented by the West Coast Jewish Theatre, the American Premiere of her play O MY GOD deals with the power of faith, belief and how best to cope with the obstacles of everyday life with a sense that all will work out for the best. The production runs through June 7 at the Pico Playhouse in West LA.

The play is directed by WCJT Artistic Director Howard Teichman and stars two marvelous actors, Mike Burstyn and Maria Spassoff, who play off and with each other perfectly. It is a daunting challenge being onstage for an hour and a half without a break, delving into biblical text to determine meaning while examining your own belief, yet that is exactly what they do. So intense is their connection to the word play and each other, the audience sat riveted to their every word.

O MY GOD is a dark comedy set in the home of Ella, a psychologist who laments her son's autism. Her son Lior (Joseph Rishik, a trained cellist) centers himself by playing the cello, using the instrument to express the emotions he cannot speak. Rishik maintains the far-off stare of a person lost in his own mind, not knowing how to connect emotionally to other people, complete with the ticks and turns of a trapped and frustrated soul longing to communicate. Her son's illness challenges Ella to the breaking point regarding her beliefs in God, religion, the human condition, and her own existence. But she understands how to get through to her son and focuses her practice on children with learning disabilities to help other parents cope with the stress of wanting to do what's best for their child.

One afternoon Ella receives a phone call from a new patient who insists on seeing her immediately or something bad will happen. While it is a strange request, she agrees to meet with him right away. But when the man arrives and introduces himself as G and claims he is God, Ella is faced with the challenge of considering what she can possibly do for this person who is obviously delusional. But as the afternoon progresses, G does his best to convince Ella he is telling the truth by opening doors or silencing her in her tracks with a wave of his hand. But when he repeats things Ella has said to God in her prayers, Ella admits she was talking to an imaginary person she never thought really existed but agrees he must be telling her the truth. As G challengers her further, Ella finally puts aside her disbelief and does her best to save mankind by assisting G in working through his problems.

The ongoing therapy session examines both G's and Ella's beliefs, needs, emotions, the meaning of biblical text and the need for faith. "But since you did not have a mother, who can we blame?" Ella laughingly asks G as they get started. It was a welcome moment of levity the audience certainly appreciated with their knowing chuckles.

With lots of quick-paced repartee, Burstyn and Spassoff play many games of cat and mouse as she attempts to discover how she can possibly save mankind since God is talking about destroying everyone due to his disappointment with his creation. At one point, the two characters switch places with God picking up her notebook, sitting in her chair and questioning Ella about her faith. She soon realizes the power has shifted in the room and rightfully puts God in his place, literally and figuratively. This was one of my favorite bits during the therapy session, directed by Howard Teichman with insight and a deep recognition of man's ability to control our own lives no matter what gets thrown at us.

Internationally acclaimed American/Israeli actor Mike Burstyn brings just the right amount of menace, anger, fear and humanity to the role, sharing an Almighty who gives real meaning to man being created in his own image. God cries, yes he does, and Burstyn makes every emotion and swift flick of his powerful hand seem to come from deep within his soul, heartfelt and honest to the core.

Maria Spassoff's Ella brilliantly takes us along on her sometimes comical and often poignant journey from non-believer to skeptic, and ultimately to a faithful believer who just wants to help make things right for mankind and especially her son by doing what she can for her high-powered client. Thankfully Ella knows the Bible well and can site examples when confronted by what seems to be a reversal of his word. "So you want to break your promise to Noah?' Ella asks when God threatens to wipe out mankind.

Shocked at his lack of concern, Ella then asks him, "Why did you create man in the first place?"

"To take care of the maintenance," he responds.

"You were just looking for love," is her response. Of course, that is a standard response during therapy, with man being run by fear, confusion and ultimately our need for companionship and understanding. Yes certainly we were created in God's image is the message I took home from this play. Thought-provoking and ultimately insightful into the human condition and the importance of faith, O MY GOD just might make a true believer out of you!

O MY GOD general admission is $35, and student tickets (with valid ID) are available for $25. The running schedule is Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 3pm through June 7. Tickets are available online at wcjt.tix.com or by phone at (323) 821-2449. The Pico Playhouse is located at 10508 W. Pico Boulevard in Los Angeles, 90064. For more information on West Coast Jewish Theatre, visit www.wcjt.com.

Photo Credit: Michael Lamont

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