Theater Deconstructed: A Recipe for Success

By Gabriel Morales
For the Real Theater Critics Blog

Lifehouse Theater closes its fifteenth season with an excellent offering in "Noah," a dynamic, fast-paced, thoroughly enjoyable retelling of the classic Hebrew story.

Deconstructed: a popular culinary style wherein a dish's ingredients are presented separately to accentuate their individual appearance and flavor. Lifehouse's "Noah" is the theatrical equivalent.

Part biography, part homage, with dashes of parodic timewarp, Dustin Ceithamer's original script and the talented young cast lay out every element of the production for the audience to relish. While the patrons find their seats with aid of Lifehouse's smiley, gregarious volunteers, the eight young players -- decked head-to-new-Converse-toes in their own primary color -- mills about on stage, chatting, handstanding and Facebook-statusing.

Once the the show begins, the wingless stage design simultaneously pulls the audience to both center and backstage; as one may watch a touching monologue or duet number, while the remaining players sift through props or slip tunics over their jeans and T's. (Thankfully, haphazard animal costumes made of painted cotton balls are nowhere to be seen.) Ladders and chairs make for versatile stage elements as they're utilized for everything from levels, to an altar and the ark itself.

Overall the production value is top-notch. From the fluid lighting, to the crisp sound and abstract set design -- every department harmonizes to create a show short on kinks and long on what can only be attributed to joyful, whole-hearted dedication to text and craft. Individually, and as a harmonizing collective, the cast is solid. Each rises to the task of switching characters, song and dance styles, and endless props without missing a beat. Two particularly enjoyable segments where the cast dazzles are when Noah goes on the "Non-committal Relationship [Dating] Game" to find a wife, and later when the Patriarch and family channel the rhythmic stylings of "Stomp" while constructing the ark.

"Noah" is a wonderfully realized, wholesome, inspirational must-experience romp for the whole family!