While 7th House Theater's "Jonah and the Whale" isn't technically a holiday show, its message of hope and redemption offers enough light and heat to warm even the darkest season of the year.
Described as "a story of a journey and a return," this bluegrass musical at the Guthrie's Dowling Studio transposes the biblical story to a small town somewhere along the Mississippi.
Jonah, played with bemused sincerity by David Darrow, is thrown headlong into a dark night of the soul after a personal tragedy. Fleeing his own child, who is an unwelcome reminder of loss and the town that no longer feels like home, he wanders adrift before joining the crew of a departing ship. His experiences ultimately lead him home again, a changed man.
Tyler Mills' book tells this tale with a poetic sensibility that's matched by music and lyrics by Darrow and Blake Thomas. The musical numbers range from lovely heart-rending ballads to rollicking gospel-inspired paeans that ably serve to communicate mood and emotion.
But the aural appeal of this show isn't limited to language and music. Sound itself becomes a pervasive presence through Nicholas Gosen's design, whether it's a baby's insistent cry, the slosh of water in a jar to denote the ocean or the sound of plungers, chimes and motors rhythmically conjuring the backdrop noise of daily activity.
A talented 10-member ensemble and an onstage band populate this world with a variety of characters as Jonah's story unfolds in a presentational style reminiscent of "Our Town." Standouts include Cat Brindisi as a preacher belting out a walloping hymn of praise that's one of the show's highlights, and Matt Riehle as a sinisterly charismatic faith healer. Gracie Kay Anderson offers up a slyly menacing Captain Buck in a wonderfully percussive number, while Kendall Anne Thompson graces the role of Susan, Jonah's wife, with an exquisitely sweet singing voice.
This is a busy, highly detailed production, from Kate Sutton-Johnson's cluttered hodgepodge of a set to the clever bits of stage business and myriad characters that emerge sometimes just for a moment or two. Co-directors Tyler Michaels and Emily King do an admirable job of maintaining the show's simple throughline.
There are occasional moments, particularly toward the end, that could use more shaping, and Darrow's Jonah sometimes seems too much a bewildered bystander to the action. These are minor quibbles, however, in the face of this energetic, accomplished production of a promising and appealing musical. At a mere 85 minutes, "Jonah and the Whale" will leave its audiences ready for more.
