THEATER REVIEW 34west delivers with 'Waiting for Joshua'

The play's messages are appropriate for people of all faiths.
By L. CROW
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBIANA -- Once again, the large banquet room at Das Dutch Village Inn was packed for a 34west Theater Company production.
"Waiting for Joshua," a Bible-based story of Joshua and the Battle of Jericho, was written by Stephen Baldwin, 34west's co-artistic director and founder. Baldwin and Jeffrey Querin, the other co-director and founder, played all the roles, while company member Rebecca Whittenberger ran lights and sound.
As usual, the Inn provided a sumptuous buffet feast in a warm and cordial atmosphere, after which the audience settled back to enjoy the show.
The play is set in a World War I battlefield, but the story remains true to scripture: Joshua was commanded by God to lead his people to defeat the city of Jericho by circling its borders for seven days. Then, sounding the trumpet, the soldiers gave a mighty shout, crumbling the walls of the city.
But as is typical with 34west, nothing is conventional. So, while Joshua, played by Querin, was a serious character, faced with decisions that would determine the fate of his people, the other characters were corny. For example, there are two privates, James and Davis, who, while technically soldiers, were actually there to entertain the troops. Whenever the story got a bit too heavy, they broke into song and dance.
And it was these two that were handpicked to infiltrate the city as spies. Disguised as a mute sheik and his servant, they unknowingly visited a house of ill repute to receive information from the local prostitute, Rahab. The strip tease music and red lingerie strewn about made this whole scene hysterical.
Messages
And while this story is based on the Old Testament, the play contains messages for people of all faiths.
The underlying human elements deal with trusting your gut feelings when faced with difficult situations, and sometimes having the need to trust others to make choices that are for the good of many people. It is about courage and the desire we all have for freedom, and sometimes making uncomfortable choices that need to be made to move on to a better situation. It is about breaking out of the mold of familiar habits to do something challenging that will benefit yourself and others.
And it is also a story of friends who love each other and stick together when times are tough. Though many believe that the scriptures are historical accounts of events, most people also interpret them as lessons toward becoming a better person.
But there is one other element that has attracted such a large and loyal following to this tiny theater troupe, and that is the energy and chemistry between its members. Their tremendous passion for telling stories in a compelling and entertaining way, combined with their obvious great respect and camaraderie toward each other, always results in an outpouring of positive energy that spills into the audience. After experiencing an evening with this group, it is simply impossible to feel anything but joy. It is easy to become hooked on these people!
For more info on upcoming plays, call (866) 482-5050.