Your Stage : That thing that just strikes that nerve. by Gavion E. Chandler

I wrote a play THE PROBLEM WITH GOD. It is a play where Man, God, and the Devil (an attractive woman) discuss 'the problem with god'. The play addresses religion, god, the devil and man in generalization. No one specific faith or religion is fingered. One point of exchange Man asks of the Devil:. MAN: So what's your problem with God? DEVIL: First it's not my problem, it's yours and what's the problem with God? It's real simple; it's that you dare to make God out to be in your own image, to believe that God to be this long white bearded old man high up on a throne somewhere on some cloud way, way up there somewhere. But that's only part of it; it's what you do in the name of God. You judge, kill and hate all in the name of the love of God.' THE PROBLEM WITH GOD play by Gavion E. Chandler~ As the play moves forward their exchange of dialogue and debate unravels with Man and the Audience becoming the object of their on going discussion until Man looks to God and.... MAN: But if we're discussing 'the Problem with God; and you're God, shouldn't you know what's wrong with you? DEVIL: (ENRAGED) I said, 'THE PROBLEM WITH GOD', not 'WHAT'S WRONG WITH GOD!!' Rattle that thing between your ears and think about it Jonsey! If God is Eternal, —all omniscient!—all omnipresent!—all omnipotent! Perfect in all Ways!; then how in the high heavens can something be wrong with God! Not even I dare to think such a thing! God you can be so stupid! GOD: (TO DEVIL)~ * Just a poor choice of words, that's all child. (TO MAN)~ * But she is on point here. The 'Problem with God', with 'Me' isn't 'Me', rather it is Man; what you claim 'ME' to be or not to be and 'her' too. It's your own version of the Hamlet complex where you sculpt your thoughts in words and deeds. You alone are your own Achilles Heel, your own affliction where you paint your own heavens of hells and hells of heavens alike. DEVIL: Inflicting all your scruples and qualms upon 'US!!' But in truth, it all begins and ends with you!—you, the little alpha and omega deities that you are. THE PROBLEM WITH GOD play by Gavion E. Chandler~ The Devil unleashes her fury and is disgusted by the audacity of Man to even presume such a suggestion, God quiets her wrath and as the Devil and God become a half distant dream as the Devil wonders why God and her play this game with Man and exits leaving God, Man and the Audience whom he addresses directly with the thought of a coin toss of "Heads or Tails?". GOD: (TO AUDIENCE) it's what you do with 'Truth'. 'You want to know 'Truth', but only if you can define what it is and what it isn't. Just like me, and her too. It makes you feel safe, and yes you always did want to have the last word—you still do, or at least you want the right to question it, whatever might up be for consideration. But that's why you're such a curious creature of creation that you are. You and your curiosity, it consumes you. You're such a child of a thing in spirit and will, and in heart you can be a child that is truly kind and generous... just like an angel, or you can be the most wrathful and vindictive little imp that will put any devil or demon worth its salt to shame. (HOLDING THE COIN UP TO THE AUDIENCE)~ * So which one is it? Heads or Tails? Is the Universe nothing more than the sum of random events that are to be of 'Now of this Moment' or is there some great design like a giant clock mechanism unraveling and recreating itself over and over again? Are you an object of the Universe subjected to it governing laws, or do you in your pebbling consciousness come to will and shape all that it is and all that it isn't in those unspoken whispers born of your heart? THE PROBLEM WITH GOD play by Gavion E. Chandler~ The play puts to question Man, religion and how we paint God and the Devil in our own understanding and what we do in the name of God and justify acts that are less than godly. The play ends with thoughts of our humanity that is offered to the audience that is an open ended question that would have them inquire of their own person. There is no sense of resolution, no ending in sight, only a big question mark staring them down. Now I have given the script to several actors and they like it until the end where I challenge the audience with the possibility of their humanity and then end up getting cold feet. My once friend contacted several of her actor friends and they won't touch it with a ten foot pole, because of the questions that it raises. How to deal with this dilemma, any thoughts or venues that might be up for a play such as this? Gavion E. Chandler~ 'Man is his own devil.'