The work of beloved playwright Neil Simon returns to the Santa Maria Civic Theatre with God’s Favorite. Simon’s small-ensemble casts and intimate settings are perfectly suited to the civic theater stage, and SMCT’s list of past productions is full of them. Simon penned such hit Broadway comedies as Barefoot in the Park, The Odd Couple, and Brighton Beach Memoirs. God’s Favorite isn’t a major Simon work, but it does offer plenty of laughs and heart as performed by this delightful cast.
The play is a comical update of the Biblical story of Job: Joe Benjamin (Jim Sullivan) worked his way from poverty to prosperity through his faith in God’s will. The only thorn in his side is his alcoholic son, David (Billy Cortez)—that is, until the night Sidney Lipton (Eric Daniels) breaks into his house. Lipton claims to be a messenger from God, and he’s there to tell Joe that he’s “God’s favorite” creation. Unfortunately for Joe, God has decided to test his faith with suffering, in order to win a bet with the devil. To end his hardship, all Joe has to do is renounce God, which he absolutely refuses to do.
This production is well timed, given that plenty of potential audience members (including the once well-to-do) are being “tested” by the current economy.
Sullivan is great at turning agony into comic antics, particularly in an “itching” scene (SMCT should have sold backscratchers to the audience during intermission—the group would have made a fortune). But not all the humor is physical. Simon can always be counted on for a few classic one liners, and there are some uproarious ones in this play, many delivered by Joe himself.
One of Lipton’s earliest lines is “I’m not here for laughs,” but Daniels sure gets plenty from the audience. He cuts up as a zany lunatic, but he’s also believable as an unorthodox heavenly messenger. His amusement at Joe’s predicament amuses us, too. (Take note: At some performances, Lipton will be played by Alan Foster.)
Some modern plays might have left the audience to speculate whether or not Joe’s suffering was actually a result of divine providence. After Lipton’s first scene, Simon leaves no doubt that (in context) Lipton is supposed to be God’s messenger and Joe’s problems are indeed a test. Thus, the play gets right down to the divine comedy and didactic lessons.
God’s Favorite fairly focuses on Joe and Lipton, but each of the supporting cast members gets a moment, too.
David is always ready with a flippant answer, and Cortez is always ready to deliver it with humorous attitude. Joe and he make a good comedy duo, with Joe as the straight man trying to make a point.
Gaye Thiel is Joe’s ditzy but loving wife Rose, who’s got some great Edith Bunker-type lines, one of which earned her applause as well as laughs.
It’s not exactly clear what age the Benjamins’ twin son and daughter are supposed to be, but they seem to be somewhere in their teenage years.
Angela Hutt-Chamberlin is especially funny when portraying Sarah Benjamin’s hysterics during the early “who broke into the house?” scene. Don Schuettee is her sweet, innocent, and somewhat out of touch brother, Ben.
Naturally, the maid and butler (Nancy Kunishige and Gary Prober) also have some droll observations about the family they work for.
While the scene in which everyone prays for Joe offers some comedic elements, it’s serious enough to make us believe the character is really being tormented and that his family really cares about him.
The décor of the Benjamin home makes the family’s wealth clear from the beginning, although the big plaid couch in the foreground seems a bit out of place. The set change that occurs between Acts One and Two makes a big impact, showing the disastrous deterioration of the Benjamins’ home.
And finally, the pre-show atmosphere music was from Neil Diamond, which could possibly be a play on Neil Simon—so there’s a laugh before the play even begins.
Brent Parker is someone’s favorite. Send comments to him through the arts editor at scone@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Feb 12-19, 2009.