The Creation of the World and Other Business
date. July-August, 2015
venue. Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre
credits. Arthur Miller
Both entertaining and thought provoking in a circus atmosphere, The Creation of the World and Other Business is presented this season in celebration of the 100th birthday of world renowned playwright, Arthur Miller. Dividing his play into three acts and also “three questions on the human dilemma,” the story begins with a charming and gently humorous retelling of Adam and Eve (and God) in the Garden of Eden. After their expulsion from paradise, Eve gives birth to Cain, watched over by a scheming Lucifer—who seeks to share the power of a God now angered by the errant ways of his creations. In the concluding portion of the play, with mounting dramatic intensity, Cain kills his brother, Abel, and is sent out as a wanderer, as the final dilemma is explored: When everyone wants justice, why do we go on creating injustice? Throughout the action, which alternates scenes of sprightly humor with absorbing confrontations between God and Lucifer and God and his fallible creations, the striking pertinence of the play becomes ever clearer. It is a parable for our time, and all time, rich with philosophic insights and alive with vivid theatricality.
“What a fabulous production, very intense… what an amazing show! So dense and rich, you didn’t dare miss a line.” ~audience feedback
“…it is a highly professionally and artistically executed performance, one that would make Arthur Miller proud.” ~Rajka Stefanovska (Capital Critics Circle)
“The acting in this 9th Hour production is strong without exception… and the whole production is definitely worth seeing.” ~Jennifer Hartley (Ottawa Life Magazine)
“I was convinced that director Jonathan Harris imbued new life into a play long considered moribund. The choice to have an ensemble cast, with interchangeable roles, in the guise of travelling circus performers adds a forceful intimacy within the compact circular studio stage.” ~Daniel Bezalel Richardsen (Herd Magazine)
“9th Hour’s rendition effectively and beautifully creates a space of dialogue in which people are gently pushed (and, sometimes, forcefully prodded) to consider a wide variety of questions.” ~Nadya Pohran (guest discussion panelist)
“A play featuring a breakdown in communication, first-hand accounts of the exile from the Garden of Eden and other misadventures is rich fodder no matter where your audience stands on questions of theology.” ~Jennifer Cavanagh (Apt. 613)
THE ARTISTIC TEAM
ELIZABETH CHANT (Properties Designer & Scenic Artist) | GEORGE DUTCH (Dramaturge) | ROBIN GUY (Music Director) | JONATHAN HARRIS (Director) | GABRIELLE LAZAROVITZ (Artistic Consultant) | SUSAN MARRINER (Graphics Designer) | ANDREW PALANGIO (Sound & Lighting Designer) | MISHELLE STOTT (Costume & Make-up Designer)
THE ENSEMBLE CAST
GEORGE DUTCH (Adam, Angel)| ROBIN GUY (Eve, Lucifer) | JOHNNY EATON (Lucifer, Cain)| DAVID PLOUFFE (God, Lucifer)| MARY BETH PONGRAC (Eve, Angel) | BENOIT TRUDEL (Adam, Abel)
THE PRODUCTION TEAM
FLO ALEXANDER (Production Assistant) | ANDRE R. GAGNE (Production Photographer) | SARAH NIEMAN (Production Stage Manager) | ANDREW PALANGIO (Technical Director) | TANYA SYLVESTER (Assistant Stage Manager)
THE DISCUSSION PANELISTS
ALEXANDRA BENDER | RABBI DR. REUVEN P. BULKA | IMAM DR. MOHAMAD JEBARA | NADYA POHRAN | GILLIAN WALLACE | REVEREND MARK WHITTALL
