Review: AN ACT OF GOD is Sinfully Good

In a long overdue attempt to set the record straight, God (for the first time a woman) and her devoted angels answer a few of the deepest questions to haunt mankind since the beginning of time itself. She also has a quite a few remarks for man's many interpretations of the Bible.

Spoiler alert: she isn't very happy with us. Well, to be more honest, she's unhappy that we've focused so much on the Ten Commandments -- to the point where she saw fit to introduce a new set to all.

She shares the stage with her faithful angels: the incredibly serious Gabriel (James Gleason), with his Gutenberg Bible from which he recites, and the never-ending questioning, to the point of God's annoyance, Michael (Max Lawrence), whose interaction with the audience itself really makes you feel as though you are having this conversation with God as She chats away.

The comedic sense - unique to each character - of all three makes for an evening of theatre where one cannot help but laugh, even when feeling a bit sacrilegious doing so, but that is the brilliance of playwright David Javerbaum. He takes religion and the whole idea of God and spins it on its head; Michael asks the questions that we've all been asking: why do bad things happen to good people? Why is there suffering in the world? Why do children suffer from illness? If God is all powerful, why can't God rid the world of pain? Why do we even have to die?

Naturally, Javerbaum offer an answer: God works in mysterious ways. When that answer is not enough, God points out one simple thing in response: She created us in Her image and, well, perhaps She's not the greatest of people.

That's not the message, however, with which She would like you to walk away. As she goes over the new Ten Commandments, there is one that sticks out, perhaps one that we should all remind ourselves of every now and again: believe in thyself.

Do yourself a favor and catch An Act of God before it leaves town; this hilarious production runs until November 12th at the Temple of Music and Art (total running time of 1 hour and 30 minutes, with no intermission -- oh and how you'll wish it were longer!).

The Arizona Theatre Company's 2016-2017 season is sponsored by I. Michael and Beth Kasser. This production of An Act of God is sponsored by Dolly and Jim Moran. Tickets start at $25 a piece. They can be purchased at the box office at the Temple of Music and Art (333 S. Scott Ave), online at www.arizonatheatre.org, or by calling the box office at (520) 622-2823. Discounted rates are available at all performances to seniors and active military members. Students can purchase rush tickets for $10 at all performances and half-price rush tickets are available for balcony seats one hour prior to curtain at the ATC box office.

Following An Act of God will be Fiddler on the Roof (December 3 - 31); La Esquinita, USA (January 14 - Feb 4); Ring of Fire (March 4 - 25); and closing the 2016-2017 season will be Jeffrey Hatcher's commissioned play by the ATC, Holmes and Watson (April 15 - May 6).

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