In the beginning… there was darkness. And behold… God popped out from behind the scenery and said, ‘Let there be light!’ And lo. The stage lights did come up and we were treated to Popular Playhouse’s ‘Oh My God! A Comedy of Biblical Proportions.’
The earth did shake, rattle and roll, Lucifer did shimmy in the Garden of Eden, Sarah did do a pregnancy test on the toilet, a plague of rubber toads did descend upon Pharaoh, and, as it was foretold, the audience were thoroughly entertained, while the occasional Boeing 747 flew overhead.
‘Oh My God! A Comedy of Biblical Proportions’ is the prequel to Popular Playhouse’s riotous hit ‘Christ Almighty.’ If you were lucky enough to bear witness to their romp through the life and death and life again of Jesus, then you know what the Bible’s Old Testament is in for.
No stone tablet is left un-overturned in their pursuit of laughs and the jokes come quickly and without warning, not unlike The Great Flood.
James Hartley commands the stage (and the Universe) as God, channelling Charlton Heston and Heston Blumenthal with a pinch of Sir Lawrence Olivier in Clash of the Titans.
His on again / off again partner for the evening (and eternity), is Lucifer, played with devilish relish by the remarkable Joseph Rotondella.
Sparks fly whenever these two are on stage together. It’s a beautiful thing. God may be wrathful, petty and frankly murderous at times, Lucifer is diabolical, cunning and spiteful, but ultimately, they’re two soft hearts struggling with the complexities of love.
Jesus makes a recurring guest appearance in the form of Oscar Wills, a humble chippy and sandal-clad stoner who helps hammer together a highlights reel from across the Old Testament.
We meet Eve and Adam, Emma Flynn and Max Dÿkstra, facing endless days playing rock and stick. Sarah and Abraham, Natasha Cheng and Oscar Baird, praying for a child and rapidly repenting when Isaac is delivered unto them in form of Roslyn Hicks.
Noah and Mrs Noah, Jamie Sturgess and Erin Pacholke, are joined on their Ark by a fabulous menagerie of animals (and a bird) including a panda and a delicious looking koala.
Rounding out the cast is the mountainous Daniel Moxham as Goliath. Most of the cast take on multiple roles and all throw themselves into the play headfirst.
There’s a noble tradition of popping religions’ self-important bubbles with comedy. Monty Python’s ‘The Life of Brian’ was banned outright in Ireland, Norway and parts of the UK when it was first released in 1979. Critics accused the movie of blasphemy and sacrilege.
‘Oh My God! A Comedy of Biblical Proportions’ owes something to the fabulous Mel Brooks and his irreverent hits ‘History of the World, Part I’ and the ingeniously titled ‘History of the World, Part II.’
Especial manna must be bestowed on Tommy James Green as Writer, Director and Producer. The Pythons and Mel Brooks are most excellent company to keep.
If you’re worried that you might be offended… you probably will be, so you should buy two tickets and take a friend so you can be offended in company.
‘Oh My God! A Comedy of Biblical Proportions’ is now on at Flight Path Theatre, running from 15 to 31 October.
You can follow Popular Playhouse at:
https://www.instagram.com/popularplayhouse
Tickets are now available at: https://www.flightpaththeatre.org/whats-on/oh-my-god-another-comedy-of-biblical-proportions
To book tickets to Oh My God! A Comedy of Biblical Proportions, please visit https://www.flightpaththeatre.org/whats-on/oh-my-god-another-comedy-of-biblical-proportions.
Photography: Othniel Mani/TreeOak Media
