BWW Reviews: First Run Theatre and Dusty Bums' Production of LET THERE BE THISTLES

First Run Theatre dedicates all its efforts toward full stagings of new works by local playwrights, and on this occasion, they're presenting (along with Dusty Bums, and through the kind use of the Marble Stage Theatre space in the Crestwood Artspace) Let There Be Thistles by Joshua Thomas. This is an intriguing play, and one that benefits greatly from the smaller confines the space provides, since First Run's plays are usually staged at the Thomas Hunter Theatre on the campus of DeSmet High school, which is a lovely, but imposing venue. This play probably wouldn't work as well in such a big room, but here, in a more intimate surrounding, it's far more engaging and intense.

This is a play that explores religion from a more existentialist perspective, positing the premise that a God's existence stops once his disciples cease to believe anymore. And, our first evidence is presented in the opening scene which finds our God figure trying to get some shuteye, while dealing with the ravenous appetites of some fleas that have infested his shabby bedding.

This God has seen better days obviously, and his tattered and ill-fitting tuxedo (which looks more like a waiter's uniform) betrays this fact. His calls to "let there be light" and "let there be toast" fail to offer up any magical or miraculous occurrences, and he's been reduced to listening intently to the sounds outside his door-less and windowless abode for any faint sound of prayer, or for any kind of query at all. But, he speaks to us, and he promises he'll create life on this evening, but he's through making "monkeys" out of clay, he's using thistles now, in combination with a legless flea.

As the God, and a flea named Stan, Robert Ashton delivers a marvelous performance. He's charged with maintaining our interest for about 90 minutes (with intermission), and he does his level best to catch and keep our attention throughout. It's a meaty role that allows Ashton to run the gamut of emotions, as he attempts to prove that he's truly a deity (to us, but mostly to himself), while harboring the sad realization that his powers have been drained dry by the faithless multitudes.

Writer/director Joshua Thomas has concocted an interesting play that speaks to both the faithful and the faithless, and though it may be a bit repetitious in spots, there is a considerable amount of humor to be found. I'm not so sure that it needs an intermission, other than to give Ashton a breather, and it could use some tightening here and there, but it's an provocative piece that's worth your time, if only to witness Ashton's splendid performance.

Let There Be Thistles continues through August 22, 2010.

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