The Arts / Reviews

Theater review: Second coming of 'Children of Eden' leaves audience satisfied

By David Burke | Wednesday, August 20, 2008 | () comments

Member of the cast of "Children of Eden" pose on the set. (Contributed photo)

If your picture of God is larger than life, with a flowing white beard, long robe and a booming voice, then Brian Nelson is the deity for you.

As Father in Countryside Community Theatre’s “Children of Eden,” Nelson reprises his role from the former Ghostlight Theatre and leads a talented company in Stephen Schwartz’s musical, which tells the stories of Adam and Eve and Noah’s Ark as relationships between parents and their children.

Nelson (who I’ve performed with in several Quad-City news media Girl Scouts benefits, works for our competitor and shares a physique similar to mine) has command of the stage as God with a rich voice that embraces Schwartz’s score.

As Father, he both gently and forcefully wrestles with the age-old parental dilemma of controlling his children or allowing them to make their own mistakes.

The children are played in this case by Brent Behrens and Alison Scherer, first as Adam and Eve and then as Noah and Mama Noah.

Behrens, who played the same roles at Augustana College in 2004, takes Adam from a wide-eyed innocent to the conflicted father of Cain and Abel and then a more stern Noah. Scherer sparkles in her roles with a pleasant stage presence, leading up to a gospel-inspired finale of “Ain’t It Good.”

Also excelling are Nick Nolte, Sam Wagner and Seth Bacon as the sons of both couples, creating fully realized characters full of conflict in each act and grasping the dramatic situations full on. Beth Hayman also does a fine job as the betrothed of one of Noah’s sons, unfortunately descended from Cain.

A multigenerational cast, clad in colorful T-shirts and khakis, helps tell the story with some strong vocals. Marcia Renaud directs a rich-sounding, five-piece orchestra.

Director Mark Hurty returns to the piece after directing the ‘04 Augie version. Looking back on that production, it was a middling review of a performance that left me wanting more. And I got it at the North Scott High School auditorium this past weekend. Hurty — whose wife, Anna, choreographs here — has his vision fully realized in this work. The story is told in a lively, colorful (kudos to Andy Lia’s lighting) manner that’s both profound and heartwarming.

IF YOU GO

What: “Children of Eden” by Countryside Community Theatre

When: 7:30 p.m. today through Saturday, July 26; 2 p.m. Sunday, July 27

Where: North Scott High School auditorium, Eldridge, Iowa

How much: $12 adults, $10 for students and senior citizens

Information: (563) 285-6228 or CCTOnstage.org on the Web