If you want to experience a truly unusual piece of Canadian theatre this year, “God” says you have to see Creation at the National Arts Centre.
In this case, “God” is Nova-Scotia based actress, director and writer Mary-Colin Chisholm who plays the female deity in Creation.
The show, a musical comedy, re-tells stories from the Old Testament and runs until Feb. 20 at the NAC.
Directed by Peter Hinton, the artistic director of the NAC, Creation is part of a trilogy of mystery plays including Nativity and Passion by Vancouver-based playwright Peter Anderson.
The show includes scenes that tell the stories of the creation of the universe, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel and Noah’s Ark.
“Nativity was part of last season and we were so inspired by its success that we wanted to continue our work with this writer and audiences with Creation,” says Hinton.
Anderson says the NAC has not yet determined whether Passion will be brought to Ottawa next season.
Chisholm says mystery plays originated in medieval Europe and were biblical stories updated to appeal to the townspeople because they included themes relevant at the time.
Anderson wrote Creation in 1990 and although a lot of it is taken directly from the Bible, it also has the writer’s own thoughts and experiences built into it, says Chisholm.
“In the original production we had both a male and a female play God. I did write one section specifically with God as a female because I really wanted to move away of a patriarchal religion and be inclusive of all people,” says Anderson.
Chisholm says she was surprised and pleased when she was selected for the role by Hinton.
“In most gender-bending roles, the audience accepts it within minutes because they’re following the story, which allows the play to open up beautifully,” says Chisholm.
“One of the lines in the play is that ‘In my own image I create people – male and female, which opens the door for women to play the role of God, especially in 2012,” says Chisholm.
Another theme in the play is environmentalism, specifically in the scene of the flood with Noah’s Ark.
Sadly, over the 20 years since the play was written, the idea of the earth exacting its revenge for the mistreatment by humans has probably become more relevant, says Anderson.
Despite being based on the Old Testament, both Anderson and Chisholm say the play should appeal to people from different religious backgrounds as well as those without religious affiliation.
“I like to honour these stories because you don’t have to be an observant Christian to appreciate the power of myth… moral stories that contain the wisdom of our ancestors,” says Chisholm.
Anderson agrees.
“I look on them as stories and myths that can be great guides to how we live our lives and not as absolutes… I believe the Bible was written by men and I don’t think it’s the absolute truth,” says Anderson.
Music for the production is by Allen Cole and the play itself will be performed in the round, meaning the audience will completely surround the stage, something that hasn’t been done for a few years at the NAC, says Chisholm.
The show runs at the NAC until Feb. 20.