By Melissa Rubalcaba Riske
As political ads flood the television, radio and social media mediums – the leadership at the Williams Street Repertory has decided it’s time to change the conversation to something less controversial.
Religion.
The theater troop is presenting “An Act of God” at its home base the Raue Center For The Arts in Crystal Lake. The show opens Friday, Aug. 2 and performances run through Sunday, Aug. 25.
The witty play by David Javerbaum features God and his right-and-left-hand arch angels, Gabriel and Michael in conversations and a few clever answers to long-held questions.
The show made its Broadway debut in 2015 with actor Jim Parsons of “Big Bang Theory” in the lead role. The actor and Illinois native Sean Hayes, of “Will and Grace” also portrayed God on the stage.
For the Raue production, actor Gӧran Norquist has stepped into the role of God, with his beard and booming voice. Actor Daniel Martin is serving as the understudy and will perform in some productions, with his appearance as a young, clean-shaven eternal one.
In the play there are opportunities for the actors to interact with the audience, thereby adding an element of improv into each performance and inviting the audience to feel they can participate in the conversation.
“The whole show is about the audience,” Norquist quipped.
In the role of archangel Michael, Kirk Osgood draws on some of his experience as a graduate of The Second City as he interacts with audience members.
“It’s improv within a structure,” he explains.
Balancing out the trio on stage is Nathan Dale Short as archangel Gabriel.
“I feel {Gabriel} grounds God in the story and with what he has come to do,” Short said.
Director Pat Henderson said it was clear from the first auditions this duo was what the show needed. Actor Ross Dobbins is preparing as understudy to fill in for either angel. From the early rehearsals and readings, it was clear the show is based on the clever banter and interactions among the trio of God and the head angels on stage.
Henderson said the play tells a story that is filled with wonderful moments that intertwine with humor and emotion. In a play about God, the actors joyfully add there’s no need to brush up on the Bible and a basic understanding of the Ten Commandments will more than suffice for understanding the story.
While the play may sound simple on paper with just a trio of actors on stage, the full production includes costumes, props and sets, lighting and effects, engaging the Raue staff to bring the production to life.
Woodstock native Thom Hermanson is a new member of Williams Street Rep, coming to An Act of God as Stage Manager, but he’s excited to be a part of the local production where he can draw on his more than 30 years of community theater experience.
As they prepare for the show Henderson, along with assistant director Sophia Kuranda, are delighted with the opportunity to create a stage show that truly interacts with the audience of the historic theater.
“It’s such a nice, intimate space,” Kuranda said. “You go to the theater and you want to feel something. You want to feel inspired. You want to feel entertained.”
“The best part of our theater experience is the audience is like another character,” explains Richard Kuranda, executive director and founder of the Williams Street Rep.
Now in its 18th season at Raue Center, Williams Street Repertory is the only professional theater troop in McHenry County. While the show draws on its local audience, Richard Kuranda said the theater’s reach has significantly expanded in the nearly two decades since it’s launch, welcoming those from Lake and Cook counties, the North Shore and Chicago too.
“And with this longer run, it will give more people the opportunity to see the show,” he added.
Kuranda said he is excited to bring audiences on a journey with the latest productions. “We felt, with the elections, people take themselves way to serious and it’s time to be human.”
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