Jesus, Son of Man at Thanasis Theater Company
By Daniel Wilde
A new theater company has emerged in CNY.
Thanasis Theater Company founded by J.R. Westfall has set its mission to creating high-quality accessible theatrical experiences that challenge the status quo. Hoping to partake in one of these new theatrical experiences, I trekked down to the Everson Museum of Art, to witness Thanasis’ fifth theatrical project, “Jesus, Son of Man.” This piece tells the most prolific story of humanity, that of Jesus Christ, by adapting Lebanese poet Khalil Gibran’s “Jesus, The Son of Man” into 34 monologues given by various characters from the Bible.
Intrigued by the format in which this well-known story was to be told, I was hoping to experience an interpretation - which like Thanasis’ mission - would challenge the status quo of a story I have heard more than any before. What met me inside the concrete walls of the Everson was an uninsightful reiteration of the facts of this already overanalyzed story. A cast of 14 traded spaces, each delivering an impassioned version of their character’s experience and opinions on Jesus Christ all while Binaifer Dabu, as Mary, the Mother of Jesus, watched and reacted to each lengthy monologue.
This piece lacked a theatrical essence as the monologues never quite formulated a narrative worth following. The monologues formed a lecture rather than an intended arc, providing no new insight other than what was already in Gibran’s initial text. Period costumes on loan from Simon Moody, a member of the cast, were one of the few elements which stood out as truly theatrical.
A lengthy first act failed to give me any reason to invest in this story, until a well executed monologue from Donovan Stanfield as John the Baptist awaiting his execution, graced the stage. Stanfield masterfully found his way up and down the ebbs and flows of John’s passion and fear, finally exploding in desperation as he realizes his time will soon be up. This monologue came through clearly by nature of Stanfield’s physicality and clear emotional intensity, leaving me with the gravity of following one’s beliefs in the face of punishment. Stanfield, who was recently in Redhouse’s production of Fences, is an actor CNY theater lovers should certainly have their eyes on.
While I welcome new work in CNY, especially theater work performed in unique spaces such as the Everson, I expected more from the material. I hope to see more from Thanasis in the future, as the assembly of this large, diverse and passionate cast should be commended.