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At the Plaza Black Box Theatre in the Boston Center for the Arts the Encore Theatre Company presents their new production of "The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told," by Paul Rudnick. First staged in New York in 1998, it was later very well received at the B.C.A. when it was originally staged here (by another local company) back in 2000. A provocative and very witty exploration of the Bible, it offers a host of amusing and challenging questions and observations about the Good Book. Told from a decidedly gay perspective, it provides us with many unusual and quite extraordinary changes in these legendary accounts. In the beginning God appears, to the rear of the stage, as a young attractive woman, wearing an amplified headset and holding a scheduling pad as she resonantly announces the first scene, cues the play's action, describes the Creation, and continues thereafter to announce each new change in time, place and circumstance. Innocent Adam and Steve miraculously find themselves in the wonderful Garden of Eden, soon to be joined there--also miraculously-- by their adult children, Jane and Mabel. Since that famous and nefarious snake never appears, their departure from this sublime setting comes about thanks to their ongoing curiosity about the outside world, sparking God's displeasure. Furthermore, here also, Jane does not slay Mabel, and they all remain together as a family throughout. Their long years of travel through forests and storms are finally ended with the onset of the really Great Flood. Their consequent voyage on the Grand Ark, complete with all of the world's animals, is then undertaken without Noah ever being mentioned or seen. Eventually, this all leads them to Egypt. There they are witness to its historic rise and fall due to the people's Great Liberator (here known by them as "Brad".) While Adam continues to trust in the word of God, Steve is continually filled with doubt. Their bristling philosophical disagreements leads Adam and his followers into long years in the desert with Steve remaining behind, lost in Sodom. As they are both then beset by the ravages of war, pestilence, and disease, each is forced to cry out in despair for a Miracle. It comes to them, at the conclusion of Act One, as the Nativity. Act Two shifts the time and place to a loft in today's Manhattan on Christmas eve. Now contemporary Adam and Steve are joined by Jane (who is 9 months pregnant, thanks to Adam as her sperm-donor) and her soon-to-be bride, Mabel. Their holiday house guests also include a gay friend dressed as Santa, a young querulous female Morman, and the last minute arrival of a handicapped lesbian Rabbi in a wheelchair, ready to boisterously officiate at the marriage of Jane and Mabel. All of this is played out in a barrage of nonstop hilarious dialogue where one wildly uproarious thrust after another is aimed at almost every standard or conventional spiritual or religious notion. The results are very challenging, stimulating, engaging and very funny, with some thoughtful reflection lasting long after the play's finale. Performed with much comic flair by the young enthusiastic cast. Albert Chan and Jason Fenton are both quite amusing as Adam and Steve with equally and effectively humorous acting by Christine Powers and Robin Rapoport as Jane and Mabel. Kami Crary is properly authoritative and businesslike as the ever present Stage Manager (God), with jocular support by Jeffrey Kwong and Colleen Dever in a variety of different roles. Tauheed Zaman as both the Egyptian Pharaoh and the Gay Santa, and most especially Carla Whittley's grandly over-the-top performance as the stridently assertive, handicapped lesbian Rabbi were particularly striking! Extra notice should also go to Kai Cho's simple but effective set, composed of both large and small movable wooden blocks, as well as Lisa Cahill's colorful costumes, and Christina Hanson's strong direction. Now playing through July 1. (My Grade: 5) Used with permission from the PMP Network.
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PMP Network