"Why, God, Why?" "Why is there suffering?" Since Creation, so many questions for the Supreme Being.
Well, God listened and, in An Act of God, a sort of celestial Q-and-A, He explains all, the mysteries (and exaggerations) of the Bible, the miracles (and misinterpretations), and He's here to set things straight. Some theatergoers have been calling for something new and different on Broadway. God, though hardly new, takes the form here of Jim Parsons (star, ironically of TV's “The Big Bang Theory”), to make His Great White Way debut at Studio 54. And what's more ironic than that?
Warning: You may not like everything the Almighty says, (“I’m not blessing you anymore, America, so stop asking.") Still, maybe a true blessing is a belly laugh, and there are quite a few in this 90-minute, heavenly chatfest written by writer David Javerbaum (formerly of “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart”).
So here's the deal. With Scott Pask’s celestial staging and pastel lighting, the Creator appears from heaven, or a theatrical proximity thereof, and settles on a long white couch. He brings in two wingmen; one is the serious Archangel Gabriel (Tim Kazurinsky) with the original Gutenberg Bible, and the Archangel Michael, roaming the audience for planted questions. Parsons, as the King of Kings, is an unassuming, charming guy with a snarky side and a prickly comic delivery.
God's aim is to tweak those Ten Commandments, cutting out the middle man. “I’ve decided to give my new commandments directly to the Jewish people,” He promises. “That’s why I’m here on Broadway.” Some Commandments He keeps intact, like, “Thou shalt not take My name in vain,” with a stern aside, "Kanye, next time you win a Grammy Award, and you thank me for your ‘God-given talents,’ they’re going to get God-taken, understand?”
He gives you the scoop about the Garden of Eden and Adam and Steve (yes, Steve, who later became Eve), and their temptation by that heinous snake. He shares insight about His children, revealing that Jesus is the middle child between Zach and Kathy.
Though genially deadbeat, the Divine Being can also be testy, quipping to late-comers, “You’re just lucky I’m the Lord God and not Patti LuPone.” Even worse, when Michael brings Him a question about answering prayers, God skirts around the issue and after Michael persists, all theatrical hell breaks loose. God admits He has "wrath-management issues." Director Joe Mantello keeps the one-liners rolling, enhanced with cosmic lighting ambiance by Hugh Vanstone. David Zinn designed a elaborately feathered wings for the archangels and dresses the Almighty in a flowing white robe over blue jeans and red sneakers. “You are my best creation,” God tells us, “and I’m your worst.” It's an unholy way to start a new Broadway season but it's satire, folks, and it's funny.
