Almelem

"'Almelem' features a small, but exceptional cast...The play is tautly directed by Jordana Williams...The best part of the show is ambiguity that runs through it. Is John the Baptist just a scam artist, or did he find his own personal salvation..The fact that I can still ponder these questions days after seeing the play, shows that Williams' well-crafted 'Almelem' has gotten under my skin...Entertaining, thought-provoking, and a delight to watch, 'Almelem' is not to be missed." Full Review

"The balance between the character’s individual faiths and their more earthly motivations is fascinating to watch unfold on stage, especially in the hands of Williams’ smart script and the cast of talented actors. Fast-moving, provocative, and highly entertaining, the central story of 'Almelem' doesn’t deviate too far from its highly familiar source material. This production, however, sheds a new light on characters that may have been misinterpreted or mistreated by history." Full Review

"Sean Williams’s turn as playwright for Gideon Productions has been long overdue. 'Almelem' focuses on a short stretch of Biblical time in a funny and imaginative way, like keeping track of the weeks and months by counting the number of baptized...Director Jordana Williams brings doubt into the most unchanging of stories and unleashes much nervous humor...See it for the strong characters. And then talk about it with your friends, your religious figures, or your elected representatives." Full Review

"Hilarious, queer and deeply-felt new play...The performers are able to develop a playful intimacy with each other that is rare for a six-week rehearsal process. It is this ease that allows the company members to slide in and out of different roles...One of the most tragic parts of watching 'Almelem' is knowing that the contributions of figures like these fabulously flawed humans will be flattened and fade into the background of history as the biblical cannon is assembled." Full Review