Theatre, comedy, dance and anthemic music are melded in a quirky one-man retelling of Milton’s epic Creation poem squished into an off-the-wall (and up a rope) 70 or so minutes.
Written (and previously performed) by Lost Dog’s Artistic Director Ben Duke and co-directed by Duke alongside Lucy Morrison, Associate Director to the Royal Court.
Touring until 22 November, Sharif Afifi (The Band’s Visit; My Fair Lady; Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again!) is an engaging storyteller, personable and believable even though the onstage script screen betrays any seemingly aside comments.
The premise is that there is a possibility that God made everything because he was terrified of doing nothing, that he didn’t quite think it through and, thank goodness, he had the power to reset when his gay partnership and crying Jesus evokes a riot and hail of chickpeas.
Interspersed with recalcitrant children, missing lunchboxes, a lot of water and unitard nightmares, the fall of Lucifer and creation of Adam (whose outlet obsession leads to Eve), a sock serpent, Cain and Able and all things since unfolds gently and enchantingly.
God and Afifi share the pressures of parenthood, losing control of their offspring and temper while angels sidestep through a narrow kitchen and nightclub awkwardness manifests, there are deluges—of water, frogs and pulses—and embarrassment at the school gates.
Surprisingly sweet.