Is this show the “blasphemous” production that religious conservatives managed to boot from its desired facility in a state park? Hardly. The Bible: The Complete Word of God (Abridged) is more of a gentle satire than a full-fledged attack on sacred texts. Certainly, liberties are taken with the text. But who wouldn’t want to hear Moses recite the “Ten Rejected Commandments?” (“Sorry, adultery is still in there,” he notes).
After its ouster from a state park, the production was moved to a theater in downtown Milwaukee. The theater’s lighting is undoubtedly better than one would find in a state park, but there is a downside, too. The show’s lack of sets is a bit problematic in a theater, where one expects to see something besides a black curtain and black cubes for the actors to stand on. However, this shoestring-budget show manages to pile on the props and costumes in a way that is refreshingly inventive.
Three male actors must portray the Bible’s entire cast, from Adam and Eve to Noah, Abraham, Moses and, of course, Delilah, Mary and all the Bible’s women. Not surprisingly, the actors visibly sweat as they race through all the books of the Old Testament in Act I and the New Testament in Act II. A preview performance went off without a hitch, thanks to a well-trained backstage crew and the coaching of director Bo Johnson.
Of course, some bits are funnier than others. An early recital of “the begats” is nicely done by Brian Faracy, who also is the show’s producer. Emmitt Morgan portrays the role of Abraham dressed as – who else? – Abraham Lincoln. Nate Press – who looks and acts a lot like late-night TV talk show host Jimmy Kimmel - gets stuck portraying all the women, which he does very well. The show’s nadir is the repeated sprinklings of water from a water gun operated by the cast. At the preview, a willing audience didn’t seem to mind repeated sprayings.
Overall, The Bible: The Complete Word of God (Abridged) is good for a few laughs on a warm summer night. It may not be inspirational, but it definitely has some fun with the Bible’s familiar characters and parables.
