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The Christians @ Playwright's Horizons

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The Christians @ Playwright's Horizons

DressedInYourPajamas
#1The Christians @ Playwright's Horizons
Posted: 8/30/15 at 8:10am

Got a chance to see this last night. My goodness what a beautiful play from one of my favorite contemporary playwright's Luca Hnath. When it first starts out, I felt a little uncomfortable and not too interested, but then the play takes a turn and goes where you doesn't expect it to go (which is something I should have expected, it being a Lucas Hnath play). The performances are all excellent...with a standout scene from Emily Donahoe that brought me to tears.

I think this is one play where every audience member is going to have a VERY individual experience. See it if you can. Its quite wonderful.

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WhizzerMarvin
#2The Christians @ Playwright's Horizons
Posted: 8/30/15 at 9:24am

Without using spoilers, can you explain a little more what the play's about? 


Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco. Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!

DressedInYourPajamas
#3The Christians @ Playwright's Horizons
Posted: 8/30/15 at 9:29am

The very basic plot concerns a Sunday morning at a megachurch where a pastor gives a sermon stating that what that particular church believes, has now changed, and it causes quite a bit of conflict among its members, bringing up questions of translation, what faith actually is, does Hell exist, etc. Don't want to bring up too much more so as not to spoil the play.

But what I will say is that it went beyond my expectations of what I had when I first read the premise for the play, where it seemed like it was going to be another "preachy" play about religion. But it is much much more than that.

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JoseLee_
#4The Christians @ Playwright's Horizons
Posted: 8/30/15 at 9:39am

This show is coming to LA this season. Thanks for sharing your experience. Now, I'm more excited to see this new play.

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CurtainsUpat8
#5The Christians @ Playwright's Horizons
Posted: 8/30/15 at 10:03am

I saw this the other night as well. I enjoyed it very much but I had a few problems with it that you didn't. It did keep my attention, but one of my biggest complaints was the way it was directed. And I guess this is a slight spoiler, although not really. Why did they do every scene using the hand-mics? It didn't make any sense to me.  No one would ever have a personal conversation using those mics, especially if this WAS a Mega church.

It is very interesting, but it almost seems like a staged, rehearsed religious debate rather than a "play".  The playwright is kind of heavy handed the way he debates these issues with himself.  Sometimes the characters read stage directions as part of their dialogue. This sounded to me like the playwright wasn't able to get that information in any other way.

So I'm mixed.  But mostly positive.

The set is beautiful and the 18-20 member choir seems extravagant. Not sure how they are paying all those contracts.

Updated On: 8/30/15 at 10:03 AM

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Kad
#6The Christians @ Playwright's Horizons
Posted: 8/30/15 at 10:39am

I'm glad to hear the positive reports. Hnath is one of my favorite contemporary playwrights, a wholly unique theatrical voice. I loved the last two plays of his presented in NYC (Isaac's Eye at EST and A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay About the Death of Walt Disney at Soho Rep) and am very glad to see another play of his here.


"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."

DressedInYourPajamas
#7The Christians @ Playwright's Horizons
Posted: 8/30/15 at 12:20pm

CurtainsUp...interesting you say that. The style of the piece and the way they talked into the microphones was, in my opinion, one of the more ingenious directorial touches to the play. I do agree with you though that there are little moments here and there that come across a bit heavy handed, however in the end it wasn't that much of an issue for me...I wonder if they'll do much rewriting during their preview period.

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ggersten
#8The Christians @ Playwright's Horizons
Posted: 8/30/15 at 12:28pm

I was asked to consider directing this show locally - but the script (an earlier version from the first performance, I believe), to me, was preachy and even a little obvious.  It purports to address a deep philosophical question in Christian theology, but acts as if it were a new question, rather than one which has, I believe, been discussed for a long time.  (which, in and of itself, is an indictment of american preachers without theology training).  The responses of the characters - to me - were simplistic - albeit somewhat honest to their outlined characters.  It probably can be engrossing with excellent performances beyond the words on the page.  The "twists" are not surprising. The author's refusal to answer any questions raised seemed - to me - a lack of courage.  The play left me with a bad taste regarding "faith" - rather than the ambiguity the author inteded to spark conversation.  But, then, I'm not a member of a megachurch - and ultimately felt that I would not be able to draw out the respect and honest feelings of faith that I think the author intended - so I declined and recommended some other directors.  And the local company decided to not do the show this season.

The passing of microphones is called for in the script in the first megachurch scene. I don't recall if the script called for their continued usage.  However, thematically, the microphones fit, because part of the conceit is that the play's audience is the church membership - and even the private scenes are meant to evoke responses and discussion among the "church membership".  I have read that at the first performances, the audiences - made up of many churchgoers - instantly fell into their role as church members and reacted as if they were in Church.  

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CurtainsUpat8
#9The Christians @ Playwright's Horizons
Posted: 8/30/15 at 1:02pm

About the mics.... clearly there are times when the congregation is present and the mics make sense. There are several scenes where the congregation is NOT present, and there are just two people having a conversation. Why would they use mics and a sound system that is large enough to fill a Mega Church to have a private conversation? It doesn't make sense to me. The congregation is not present the entire show.

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ggersten
#10The Christians @ Playwright's Horizons
Posted: 8/30/15 at 1:31pm

I interpret it as the private conversations are still being directed to the "Church" - meaning the audience.  Even the tough conversation between the Preacher and his Wife - as the discussions are still about the topics of concern to the Church.  There is nothing "private" in the discussions.  The questions being discussed - the thoughts and innuendoes are in response to the issues supposedly being thought by the "Church" i.e. theatre audience.

I'm not saying I agree with the choice - I just understand it.  

Updated On: 8/30/15 at 01:31 PM

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CurtainsUpat8
#11The Christians @ Playwright's Horizons
Posted: 8/30/15 at 1:42pm

I'm not trying to argue with you. I just don't understand.

The fourth wall is broken during parts of the play because the audience becomes the congregation and the fourth wall is put back up when the congregation is not present.. When they are having a private conversation... like between Preacher and his wife... the congregation has gone home, so there is no logical reason to break the fourth wall.  There would be no logical reason to use mics.  It's an empty church. The audience stops being the congregation and becomes the audience again with the fourth wall back up. So I am not sure what you mean about " nothing private" about this conversation. As far as the characters understand, the congregation has gone home. They are alone in the church. It's a private discussion. Are you suggesting that the audience is the Congregation the entire play? Because I don't agree with that theory at all.

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ggersten
#12The Christians @ Playwright's Horizons
Posted: 8/30/15 at 2:09pm

"Are you suggesting that the audience is the Congregation the entire play? Because I don't agree with that theory at all."

Yes - I think that was the general intent.  The private discussions between the Preacher and his Assistant and between the Preacher and his Wife while overtly not directed to a congregation - nevertheless address ideas/questions that a congregation may have, but just are being espoused by the wife and the assistant. The Preacher who from the beginning bares his soul - or purports to bare his soul - to the Congregation continues to bare his soul to the Audience and thus the Congregation.  It's a conceit - not an actuality.  Hnath wants the audience to feel as if the Preacher is addressing their thoughts/concerns/questions throughout.  

Even in the first scene, the fourth wall is not actually broken as much as the audience interjects itself into the play - at least by reports of audiences bowing their heads when the Preacher says "let us pray" and the audience actually responding to liturgical entreaties.  (Unless the director breaks the wall more by perhaps having handouts with prayers in the audience or passing out scraps of paper for the vote of the congregation)

That's what I got from the written script.  I don't know how it plays with actors.  It may not be successful - and I'm going off of the year old script I read.

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Charley Kringas Inc
#13The Christians @ Playwright's Horizons
Posted: 8/30/15 at 2:11pm

I haven't seen it but I'd imagine it's meant to indicate that the lives of the characters are entirely integrated with the church. When they have a discussion or debate amongst one another, they're debating and preaching not for themselves but for the system they represent, which is probably what ggersten means by there being "nothing private". It's (probably, since I haven't seen it) more suggestive than literal, and the audience is probably meant to be the congregation in the sense that the show is making points and the characters are defending or arguing against them. Even in a private scene that, in real life, would be unseen, the audience is listening and judging and being swayed, like a congregation. 

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ggersten
#14The Christians @ Playwright's Horizons
Posted: 8/30/15 at 2:35pm

Thanks ChrleyKringasInc.

I had a new and different thought just now - perhaps the microphones are suggestive that the Preacher is always on - and he communicates with a microphone just as he has does when leading a service, because that's the only way he can communicate.  And he can only hear others when they use a microphone just as in the service.  In the opening sequence, the discussion between the Preacher and the Assistant are done with microphones.  

It's an interesting conceit - but whether it works may depend entirely upon the actors.  

Also, I think Hnath has done talk-backs - so there may be a discussion about this piece of staging.  - Yes- here is the author's note at the beginning of the script:

"And there are microphones, enough microphones for everyone in the play, and some microphone stands, whenever needed; because everyone will always speak on mics, just the way pastors do, or just the way congregants do when they testify. The whole play is a kind of sermon. Sometimes it's a literal sermon. Sometimes it's made up of scenes that use the formal elements of a sermon. And as such, even the most private scene has a kind of declamatory, performative, sing-songy quality"https://www.centertheatregroup.org/Global/Casting/THE%20CHRISTIANS.pdf  SPOILER. The link is to the full script

Updated On: 8/30/15 at 02:35 PM

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CurtainsUpat8
#15The Christians @ Playwright's Horizons
Posted: 8/30/15 at 2:43pm

Thank you for that explanation. Pretty intuitive since you haven't seen it yet! lol. I also appreciate that we are having some differences without anyone getting rude or disrespectful.

I understand your point now, but I still think it's a terrible choice by the director. It would be much more powerful to differentiate between their public lives and their private conversations.

But there is really only one voice here, and that is of the playwright. He's having a conversation with himself. He has just created these characters as a vehicle to have that debate.  Like I said above.. it struck me more of a staged debate rather than a play.  But I did enjoy it, and I think the playwright is very smart. I'm just mixed about the theatrical aspect of it.


Let's see what other people say, and what the critics say. Thanks everyone.

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LimelightMike
#16The Christians @ Playwright's Horizons
Posted: 8/30/15 at 4:57pm

Is there any audience participation in this show? Do they ever talk DIRECTLY to any *one* person in the house? Definitely intrigued...

AHTC
#17The Christians @ Playwright's Horizons
Posted: 8/30/15 at 5:41pm

Whats the running time?

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CurtainsUpat8
#18The Christians @ Playwright's Horizons
Posted: 8/30/15 at 6:19pm

The show runs 90 minutes. No intermission.
They never directly talk to any one person in the audience. At least not that I remember.

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HogansHero
#19The Christians @ Playwright's Horizons
Posted: 8/30/15 at 7:27pm

re the mics, I am pretty indifferent to the use but I thought it was intended to represent the 2nd topic of the sermon (avoiding any semi-spolier).

re audience participation, there were a few times that I felt he was asking a question directed at the congregation that some audiences might have answered. But not the one I saw it with.

BroadwayReal
#20The Christians @ Playwright's Horizons
Posted: 8/30/15 at 10:03pm

ggersten, Thank you for your insights. I just came from watching it and also felt conflicted. I do find the subject matter interesting and many of the ideas workable but the writing still needs way more work than I can fathom being accomplished in the scope of previews.


Inasmuch as the choir is "cute" it does not forward the plot for the 6 minutes it runs, especially with a 10 min late curtain. The mics didn't bother me. What did bother me was the narration gimmick from the pastor which is not framed in the beginning and when it is used a quarter into the play it comes jarring. A little word in narration from the pastor in the beginning would have framed it enough. 


SLIGHT SPOILERS


 To watch a preacher full of 'revelation' stumble of explanations or simply fall silent to accusations was  hard to swallow.  The author seems to be pointing to a broad encompassing New Age vision of Christianity when in fact, after the show is over, it is only about the minor point whether hell is real or not. But without the entire framework of a new religion, the point becomes meaningless.  How is it possible that in 90 min of a 'religious' themed play, the words: love, compassion and forgiveness are never even mentioned. Even the couple uses simply: do you "like" me....


 


 

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VernonGersch
#21The Christians @ Playwright's Horizons
Posted: 8/31/15 at 12:23am

The play wasn't much on my radar - but because of this thread - realized it's coming to LA at the Mark Taper Forum in December.  Looks like its the same production as well.

Very much looking forward to seeing this now - i am not familiar with the playwright and the subject matter sounds fascinating. 

 

 

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givesmevoice
#22The Christians @ Playwright's Horizons
Posted: 8/31/15 at 12:12pm

I didn't know much about the play, but wound up winning the LiveforFive lotto for Friday's performance and my friend and I both really enjoyed the play and performances. There were a few directorial decisions that we didn't care for, but the text and performances were both pretty solid.

It actually came at a really great time for me, since I just finished East of Eden, which devotes so much time to the importance of translation when interpreting holy text (a big point of discussion in The Christians), and think The Christians is an interesting companion piece for Hand to God, which was one of my favorite plays from last season. My friend and I are planning to go to Lucas Hnath's symposium at Playwrights later this month, and I'm really interested in hearing more of what he has to say about the piece.


When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain. -Kad

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followspot
#23The Christians @ Playwright's Horizons
Posted: 9/2/15 at 2:39pm

For those wondering:


"Why Lucas Hnath wants everyone in The Christians on a mic"


 


"Tracy... Hold Mama's waffles."

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ggersten
#24The Christians @ Playwright's Horizons
Posted: 9/2/15 at 2:53pm

Thanks, followspot!  This expands on Hnath's note in the script about requiring the use of microphones.

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CurtainsUpat8
#25The Christians @ Playwright's Horizons
Posted: 9/2/15 at 5:11pm

Just because Mr. Hnath thinks it's a good idea to use the mics, doesn't mean it is. It doesn't mean the idea works. To be honest, IMHO his explanation is a load of rubbish.