Neil Simon’s modern adaptation of the Book of Job – transferring the scene to a Long Island mansion, where lives a pious, God-fearing tycoon and his family: a long-suffering wife, a prodigal son and a pair of kooky twins. One night a messenger from God arrives and, as in the original story, goes through all manner of temptations to convince our hero (Joe) to renounce God. When he refuses, he is visited by all types of afflictions imaginable, and some you may not imagine.

Hilariously funny on its surface while also delivering the message of faith to the audience, this show has something for everyone and will de enjoyed by the entire family.

"Fresh, richly hilarious and remarkably original. Wildly, irresistibly, incredibly and continuously funny." – NY Daily News.

Show Pictures

Cast Bios

 

	Rick Thompson as Joe Benjamin - Rick Thompson returns to the theater world after a hiatus of over 20 years spent raising two sons and coaching youth baseball. Prior to that, he directed The Odd Couple, The Private Ear and the Public Eye, Gaslight Follies, A Thurber Carnival, The Front Page, and many others. In addition he has appeared onstage in You Can’t Take It With You and Guys and Dolls, and has done lighting design and sound design (a role he repeats tonight) for a series of productions. A journalist by profession, he and his wife Kay have lived in Prince Frederick for almost 29 years.
	Randy Geck as Sidney Lipton - Randy started his stage life in Germany acting in Barefoot in the Park, The Man Who Came to Dinner, Bedroom Farce, and others. He has been an active member of the Port Tobacco Players having acted in in Murder in Elsinore (which he also directed), Getting Away with Murder, Guys and Dolls, Inherit the Wind and directing Open Season. Randy has performed for Patuxent Playhouse in A Bad Year for Tomatoes and Murder at Rutherford House as well as co-directed South Pacific. He has also helped with our productions of Noises Off and Rumors. We welcome Randy back again. He would like to thank his wife Carol for her support.
	Karen Mattingly as Rose Benjamin - Karen is a veteran of Patuxent Playhouse after making her debut in “Godspell”. One of our most talented actresses, her versatility has landed her roles in “Send Me No Flowers”, “Spirits of Suspicion”, “A Bad Year for Tomatoes”, “Murder at Rutherford House”, “Murder Me Always”, “Rumors”, and most recently “God’s Favorite”. Over the years, Karen has become a most beloved performer. She is always a joy to work with and is an asset to the Patuxent Playhouse family.
	Scott Youngs as David Benjamin - Scott is a former Theatre Major at St. Mary’s College of MD. This is his third appearance with the Patuxent Playhouse after his debut as Detective Joe Mamet in Murder Me Always, and his portrayal of Ken Gorman in Rumors. He has appeared in numerous other productions, including Guys & Dolls, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and in the murder mystery-comedy Murdered Alive. Scott’s performances also include the title role of MacBeth at the Folger Shakespeare Library Festival in Washington, DC.
	Jeremy Coleman as Ben Benjamin - This is Jeremy’s second appearance with Patuxent Playhouse after playing in Murder Me Always. Jeremy is a senior at Patuxent High School where he has performed in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Our Town. In addition to playing percussion in the marching band, Jeremy also plays piano, guitar and bass. He would like to thank, first and foremost, God for the many blessings he has been given. He also thanks his Mom and Dad for their love and support, especially his Mom for forcing him to attend theater camp in the 5th grade.
	Jackie Horn as Sarah Benjamin - This is Jackie’s first production with Patuxent Playhouse. Although she is new to PPI, she is not new to acting. She acted in the Christmas Pageant at the Aster’s Beechwood in Rhode Island. While she was there, she also played in Annie and in The Great Cross Country Race. She has also participated in school plays while attending Mill Creek Middle School. She also participates in The Living Stations of the Cross at her church, and performed in their Christmas play, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. She is currently a sophomore at Patuxent High School
	Theresa Kurtz as Maggie (Morris) - Theresa is performing for the first time with Patuxent Playhouse. She has previously performed in Scarlet Pimpernel, Jeckyll & Hyde and Lysistrata. Theresa is a mother of two teenage boys and works as an emergency room nurse in a local hospital. She has enjoyed working with a great cast and thanks Keith and Sherry for getting her back on stage after a four year sabbatical.
	Sherry Mervine as Mady - Sherry Mervine has been involved in one way or another with community theater for over 15 years. She is a private piano teacher and general music teacher at Our Lady Star of the Sea, as well as an active Girl Scout leader. This is her first appearance with Patuxent Playhouse.
	About The Director - Keith Mervine                                            This is Keith’s second production with Patuxent Playhouse. Keith may be a relative newcomer to PPI, but he is no stranger to the Director’s Chair. He has directed for several other theater companies in the past. Those productions included All My Sons, I Remember mama, It’s a Scream, Bobby Gould in Hell, and DeathTrap. Keith is an accomplished actor as well, he has played everything from a plant (the voice of Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors) to a King (King George in The Scarlet Pimpernel). Keith is no stranger to Neil Simon either, having performed in Come Blow Your Horn, The Odd Couple, and our most recent production, Rumors.