Questioning the role of belief in our lives.
At some point in our life’s journey, most of us confront the question of what to believe about God–or not believe. For some, that question is answered early and firmly; for others the debate lasts a lifetime.
In Jon Klein’s new play Faithless playing at Burbank’s Victory Theatre, four family members come together to face that challenge from very different perspectives. Aging family patriarch Gus (John Idakitis) holds fast to his deeply held atheism even as death approaches. Gus’s middle-aged stepson Calvin, played by Jon Sprik, is a Presbyterian minister whose grip on his faith is slipping. More secular than her brother, Claire (Melissa Ortiz) is rocked by what she believes is a vision of heaven witnessed during a near-death experience. And now Gus’s adopted teenage daughter (Josee Gourdine) announces that she wants to be a nun, of all things.
Left: John Sprik, Josee Gourdine, Melissa Ortiz, and John Idakitis. Right: Melissa Ortiz and John Sprik
As directed by Maria Gobetti, Faithless is adroitly acted and crisply delivered, leavening the family’s deeper theological discussions with the wittiest dollops of humor. The back-and-forth jabs among family members are as lovingly delivered as they are sharp, ultimately causing each family member to re-examine the role God and faith have in their lives.
As timeless as these examinations of faith are, the play also seems somewhat dated, at least in that it could have been performed word for word decades ago. The cleverly designed set looks very much like the living room of a man who has lived there for decades, dowdy furniture and all, giving off the sense we could have seen the play decades ago as well.
Josee Gourdine, John Idakitis, and John SprikDiscussions of faith are most appropriate today. While regular church attendance has declined from 42% of Americans 20 years ago to 30% today, White Christian nationalists are rocking our world with their all too successful attacks on abortion rights, moves to limit access to IVF and even birth control, legislation against trans people, and school censorship efforts. Faithless offers needed insight into these discussions.
The Victory Theatre, 3326 W. Victory Blvd., Burbank; Fri.-Sat., 8 pm, Sun., 4 pm; thru April 14. Running time: 90 minutes with no intermission.
