In conversation backstage after the performance the cast members were quick to point out that their first duty is to entertain. Although not the writers of the script they improvise their way through pre-production rehearsals to find the best props and movements by which to deliver entertainment. The battered old trumpet that eventually blows down The Walls Of Jericho was found in a rubbish skip somewhere, apparently. (Another marvellous scene, that, by the way).

That their humour is a broad church is proven by the fact that such merciless lampoonery never seems to have caused offence, although a group of twenty odd protestors once picketed a theatre before a perfromance. Once the cast had established that none of these protestors had ever seen the show, their protests mattered less. However, the cast is keen not to offend, and an opening monologue makes it clear that this play is not picking on one particular religion, but on ALL religions.

In truth, it does not do that either.

What the play does, behind all the humour, is question the nature of story. In that sense The Bible: The Complete Word Of God (abridged) adheres nicely to the focus being placed on story this year by Blackburn with Darwen Arts Services. You will have noticed the Stories logo on advertisements for a number of events, no doubt.

Furthermore, the play questions the nature of authenticity (why we believe some stories by some people but not by others). Buried deep beneath the laughter are questions, too, about why Man needs to "believe" and the sharing of global resources.

But these are matters for the audience to consider long after the performance has been and gone. For during the performance an audience is reduced to helpless tears of laughter. Darwen Library Theatre’s audience was convulsed, especially at a scene in which two young female volunteers were brought up on stage to take part in the most convoluted Old McDonald’s Farm I have ever heard. How did they know what noise a trout makes??

Previous - 1 - 2 - 3 - Next

Main