.jpg)
Michael Cox finds 'much to enjoy and admire' in a production that runs a tad too long.
There is a very good idea behind Lucas Hnath’s play The Christians. Making a theatre space into a church (complete with a large choir), the audience take on the role of fellow worshipers, led by Pastor Paul. He begins a sermon stating that the church we are in has just managed to pay off all debts, a thankful task in these difficult financial times. The church has grown, starting with humble beginnings but now housing thousands of worshipers.
Pastor Paul is a very likeable man: personable, a clear speaker with a slightly cheeky air. It's easy to see why many of the faithful would join his flock. But his sermon takes a bit of a turn: through the story concerning the death of a young boy, he has had an epiphany—there is no hell. He begins to preach love, acceptance and the notion—the shocking notion—that non-Christians can actually be saved.
This revelation leads to a battle of wits with more conservative members, a battle which ends up taking a gigantic toll on everyone.
Perhaps Hnath’s smartest construct is to not have any villains. The play is filled with genuinely good people—people who are passionate about their faith and believe that any wrong turn, no matter how well intentioned, will lead to damnation. Pastor Paul isn't up against fools, crooks or power brokers—his antagonists are people he loves but just refuse to see the world in his new way.
William Gaminara is terrific as Pastor Paul, nailing perfectly the portrayal of a good man who just might not be completely honest with himself or others. David Calvitto, Lucy Ellinson and Jaye Griffiths are equally solid as an elder on the church board, a congregant who wants to believe the new thinking but finds herself at odds with friends who disagree, and the pastor’s wife who feels left out of the loop and has much to say about the situation the church finds itself in. Perhaps the play’s finest moments, however, are between Gaminara and Stefan Adegbola’s Associate Pastor Joshua. As much as he'd like to see the world through Paul’s eye, he can't square it at all, and their passionate debates are electric and wonderfully handled.
All very impressive. However, there is one downside to the production—the running time is wrong. The scenes are filled with intelligent debate between intellectual equals, but they all go on a bit too long. There is also the sense that key moments have found their way on the cutting floor. A shorter running time would result in a quicker pace that still makes its points; a longer one would allow the story and characters to breathe.
There is much to enjoy and admire in The Christians, and it would be a good thing if it managed to spark debate on the way home. It’s just a shame it's a tad long-winded and repetitive.
The Christians performs at the Traverse Theatre until August 30, 2015. Check the theatre’s website for specific dates and times.
RSS