ShowCase Players to perform “God’s Favorite”
The ShowCase Players open their 38th season with a blast from the past. “God’s Favorite”, was originally performed as the ShowCase Players’ second ever play in their inaugural season, way back in 1985. The late Esther Rannow directed.
This time around, “God’s Favorite” by Neil Simon, is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www. concordtheatricals.com. “God’s Favorite” is directed by Kevin Wyeth, who incidentally performed the role of David back in 1985. Dawn Kasper-Harder, Jenny Weber, and Melissa Fleischman are co-stage managers for this production. Jenny Weber has ties to this play as well. She played the mother, Rose, in 1985.
“God’s Favorite” is Neil Simon’s modern, and hilarious retelling of the story of Job. Joe Benjamin is a selfmade and successful business man, who lives with his family and servants in a palatial Long Island mansion. One day, Joe is visited by a messenger of God, who tells Joe that to prove his love of God, he will be put through a series of trials. While Joe’s trials get comedically worse, the true test for Joe may be his nutty family, and his repeated visits by God’s messenger, who seems to delight in torturing Joe.
The cast for 2023’s production of “God’s Favorite” includes returning SCP actors, Greg Jackan as Joe Benjamin, the father; Elaine Haas as Rose Benjamin, the mother; Jordan Aschenbrenner as David, the prodigal son; Kevin Wyeth as Morris, the butler; Bonnie Wyeth as Mady, the maid; Nathan Bier as Sidney Lipton, the messenger from God; and two newcomers to the SCP stage, but with many years of experience with other theatre groups, Samantha Yocius as Sarah, and Elizabeth Bier as Beth, two twin sisters with an I.Q. of 160 between them.
“God’s Favorite” will be performed at the Colby High School theatre over two weekends. Show dates and times are Friday, March 3, at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 4, at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, March 5, at 2 p.m., and then Friday, March 10, at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 11, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, March 12, at 2 p.m. All tickets are $8, and if you bring a non-perishable food item for the food pantry, SCP will discount $1 off the price of admission.
Don’t forget to stop by your local library for your chance to win a pair of free tickets to a performance of your choice. Participating libraries are the Abbotsford Public Library, Colby Community Library, Dorchester Public Library, Greenwood Public Library, Loyal Public Library, Owen Public Library, and the Withee Public Library.
