After being named to the Best of Theatre 2015 lists of The New York Times, Time Magazine and New York Magazine, Los Angeles Center Theatre Group and Playwrights Horizons are presenting the West Coast premiere of the Actors Theatre of Louisville production “The Christians” by Lucas Hnath at the Mark Taper Forum through Jan. 10, 2016.
Coming straight from an off-Broadway run at Playwrights Horizons, “The Christians” is directed by Obie Award-winning Les Waters and features five cast members from the world premiere at the Actors Theatre of Louisville: Scott Anthony, Emily Donahoe, Andrew Garman, Larry Powell and Linda Powell. Philip Kerr completes the cast after joining the production at Playwrights Horizons earlier this year.
The play is staged as a church service with the live accompaniment of a choir of approximately two-dozen singers per night. The singers come from a pool of 50 local vocalists from established performers with Broadway credits to USC students and range in age from their 20s to 60s. The choir is led by music director Scott Anthony who portrays the role of choir director onstage.
“The Christians” is a compelling drama that conveys the deep emotions and consequences of one man’s personal revelation. After 20 years of growing his church members into the thousands, Pastor Paul (Andrew Garman) does some soul searching and reaches a conclusion that shakes the church’s very foundation with a message that challenges one of the basic tenets of his ministry.
As Pastor Paul summons the courage to lead his flock in a new direction, he faces questions about his motivations from spunky choir member Jenny (Emily Donahoe), and his personal and professional relationships begin to fray as the truth is revealed.
We all know that religion can bring people together or tear them viciously apart. A little of both goes on during this play with not only the Pastor and his congregation at odds but also the relationship he holds dear with his wife.
And while the status of their relationship is up in the air at the end of the play, the good Pastor breaks down when he realizes how his beliefs have alienated not only his congregation and fellow pastors but also the core relationship in his world. Was telling the truth worth the sacrifice? It’s an age-old question only the searcher can answer for him or herself.
Strong supporting performers Larry Powell and Linda Powell portray Associate Pastor Joshua and Pastor Paul’s wife Elizabeth, both of whom struggle to keep their support in place once the revelation is made. Unable to do so, Pastor Joshua leaves the church along with several members of the audience.
I am not sure if this was part of the staging or it just so happened the patrons left at exactly the right moment.
And certainly you do not need to be a Pastor’s wife to recognize and sympathize with the inner struggle that goes on daily by a woman who must always support her husband, but then is torn when his newly revealed beliefs are so diametrically opposed to her own.
Do you stand by your man or set off to create a more fulfilling life for yourself?
Overall the play seemed a bit static, just as a lot of sermons must be in any church. And it was often confusing as the timeframe seemed a bit too fluid without any explanation as to how much time has gone by. A long and emotional conversation between Pastor Paul and his wife seems to take place on the church altar with both speaking to each other using microphones as if delivering a sermon.
Why would a husband and wife need to speak that way to each other? Perhaps the entire scene was being told as a recollection of Pastor Paul’s as he often interjects “then she said” during the conversation.
But the subject matter did lead to interesting conversations on the way home from the show, and theater should always lead to an exchange of thought and ideas to get us examining our own lives and beliefs. This play certainly fills that bill.
Tickets for “The Christians” are available by calling 213-628-2772 or visiting online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org. Tickets range from $25 to $85 (ticket prices are subject to change). The Mark Taper Forum is located at the Music Center, 135 N. Grand Ave. in Downtown L.A.