Reviewed by Nathan Finger and Sydney Abba
Photo credits to Sirmai Arts Marketing
Keith Bosler’s new play Heaven Help Us! (2014) tells the age old story of good versus evil, with mankind cast as the football in the Devil/God grudge match.
The play opens in Heaven; God has just returned from a brief two thousand year holiday and is shocked to discover that the world has been overrun by the wicked, the sinful and Tony Abbott. Cue the Devil. He’s been having a grand old time leading the weak into sin during God’s leave of absence. After an argument, the two agree that the only way to settle the matter is through a bet: a competition over one soul. If the Devil can corrupt this soul, God has to leave for another two thousand years, but if God wins the Devil has to go. Sounds fair. Except the soul they’re after is Luke Allcock, a lawyer. Lucky for Luke, Archangel Michael (or Michaela now, having undergone a sex change since realizing that all men are heinous sinners) has elected to descend to Earth in human form to help the misguided man out.
Bosler (who also directed and produced) has put together a rather fun show that never takes itself too seriously. There are laughs to be had from start to finish, from the chilled out Lord All Mighty to the punk rocker Devil. There’s the old contract to be signed, horses to be killed, inheritance to be embezzled and an unlikely love triangle.
As Satan, David Woodland was devilish but a tad overplayed. Decked out in pleather lace ups and a 70s ruffle shirt, Woodland enjoyed his time on stage but failed to boil during furious outbursts. Lyn Pierse brought a relaxed whackiness to the role of God, sporting a rocking Hawaiian shirt in the process. The dichotomy between the two however was a little mismatched.
As the Archangel Michaela, Orlena Steele-Prior was wonderfully serene in performance, holding her own amongst the louder more aggressive performers. She managed to find the right levels for this character, and was probably the most nuanced of the ensemble. As the snaky lawyer Luke, Tai Scrivener presented all pick-up lines with a large serving of sleaze. Scrivener was well cast generally, but like Woodland tended to overplay his role. Thankfully he came into his own when he was required to transform into something more genuine.
The plot does weaken towards the end as Luke tries to get out of his contract with some very flimsy legal maneuvering. But we should probably take this all in the spirit in which it’s offered. Is this play going to change your perspective on life? No. Does it overplay some plot devices and jokes? Shamelessly. Is it enjoyable? Absolutely.
Heaven Help Us! is playing at the Bordello Theatre at the King’s Cross Hotel until the 29th of March. For more information see: http://www.heavenhelpus.com.au/
