Review Roundup: AN ACT OF GOD at Signature Theatre

AN ACT OF GOD plays at Signature Theatre through November 26. God is back. And he's got a lot to say. Inhabiting the body of beloved DC actor Tom Story and flanked by his ever-faithful archangels, the Supreme Being gifts his mortals with an entirely new set of Ten Commandments in a sinfully funny whirlwind of comedy heaven. AN ACT OF GOD is written by thirteen-time Emmy Award Winner David Javerbaum.

The cast stars Tom Story as God, Evan Casey as Michael, and Jamie Smithson as Gabriel. The show is directed by Eleanor Holdridge, with scenic design by Daniel Conway, costume design by Robert Croghan, lighting design by Alberto Segarra, and sound design by Ryan Hickey.

Let's see what the critics had to say!

David Siegel, DC Metro Theatre Arts: Tom Story, as the Supreme Being, is wildly priceless. He is a whirlwind, a burning bush of chirpy humor with plenty of delightfully hilarious, blasphemous snaps and zaps aimed at humankind and God (in this case, himself)... An Act of God is a joyful evening of winks and nods and well-earned easy laughter. It is a night away to just be silly. With Tom Story performing effortlessly, the audience even can contemplate Ten Commandments 2.0. Here are just two of them: "Thou shalt not kill in my name, and "Thou shalt separate Me and state."

Jenny Minich, BroadwayWorld: Flamboyant and psychotic, Story's God is spot on. A devilish smile sets the tone for the entire performance... Directed by Eleanor Holdridge, An Act of God has a game-show vibe that echoes God's careless handling of affairs on Earth. Archangel Michael even sports a bedazzled microphone as he wades through audience members... An Act of God is an irreverent comedy that manages to retain mass appeal.

Jill Kyle-Keith, DC Theatre Scene: And, like the Bible, the script is wordy. Lordy, is it wordy. God appears with two angels, Michael (Evan Casey) and Gabriel (Jamie Smithson). Like Mr Story, both actors have comic chops to spare but they aren't given much of invention to say... Tom Story, as always, is quick on his feet and has good solid timing; he knows how to connect with an audience. Likewise, the angels make the most of their limited characters, particularly Evan Casey as Michael. The set by Scenic Designer Daniel Conway is especially fantastic, with a rococo flair amidst the clouds and a hint of heavenly lighting by Lighting Designer Alberto Segarra.

Nelson Pressley, The Washington Post: Being winsome with a quick temper somehow isn't enough, though, and the slick show feels calculating and overproduced. Javerbaum's jokes only briefly act like a play, and that's when God tells a rather dramatic story of Jesus with classic father-son tensions. Story is excellent at this.

Photo: Margo Schulman

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