“Hilarity ensues,” is how Rhiannon Ragland describes playwright David MacGregor’s “The Antichrist Cometh,” now playing at The Purple Rose Theatre in Chelsea through May 25. And despite the title, the play’s director says you don’t have to be religious to grasp, enjoy and appreciate this play.
“David (MacGregor) had written this years ago as a one act and I remember reading that,” says Ragland, the Purple Rose’s new Artistic Associate. “He then turned it into a full-length script with two couples and it was just so much fun. It’s just a lovely comedy that’s really about love. Would you still love this person if you discover they are the antichrist.”
“The Antichrist Cometh,” is a great story about two college roommates who come back together and have this dinner party where one of the characters introduces his new fiancé to his friend. They start having conversations about the coincidences in one of the character’s lives that has a similar track as the second coming of the antichrist.
“You don’t have to be religious to follow the story and both points of view regarding religion are well represented,” says Ragland.
When Ragland first reads a script it’s hard not to picture certain aspects of the story and visualize them playing out on stage. But it’s a process filled with challenges – and certainly rewards – when it comes to turning the written word into a performance piece.
“I’m a pretty visual person so there are moments when I see things and I go into the work in a very physical way,” she says. “So there are moments that I can see, or a certain rhythms that he writes in that I can hear very clearly.
“I didn’t know what my role would be with this play when it was first introduced. Was this something I wanted to be in or direct it or oversee it as the artistic associate. David and I have a long working relationship here at The Purple Rose. I’ve been in his shows, I’ve directed a few of his shows but hadn’t had the chance to direct one of his world premieres. And it’s something both of us wanted to have happen and do this together.”
The “brilliant” cast features Ryan Carlson (Grass Lake), Hope Shangle (Dexter), Ryan Patrick Welsh (Okemos), and Ashley Wickett (Bloomfield Hills).
“We have great professionals in this play who have long resumes but are new to the Purple Rose,” Ragland says. “They all have great energy and everyone dove right in and started working together right away. It was pretty magical to see the chemistry and they all brought incredible ideas and visions. If you see something on the stage that you really like it probably came from one of them.”
Ragland says she doesn’t come into a project with all the answers or visions of how everything is going to work. She wants to hear ideas and feedback, and everyone working together can then select the ones that will help best tell the story and be true to the playwright’s words.
“It’s about hiring great professionals who are going to bring themselves to this work,” she says. “From the designers to the cast and listening to them and getting their interpretations of it and making it personal. And we all craft it together and the best idea wins. It’s a very collaborative effort which I not only love but believe produces the best results. And when you have good people who leave their ego at the door and really make it about the work it’s actually pretty easy to craft it.”
Ragland says it’s her job to create a space where she can coach the actors to elevate themselves. “I want to create a space where they can explore and it’s very organic and we try a lot of weird and crazy things and see what sticks,” she says. “And comedy is leading the way right now. We need to laugh. We need to be their escape and where they see themselves in the story and enjoy and can be in a room full of people who are different from them and see humor in the same things that they are is very special right now.”
All performances will be held at The Purple Rose Theatre Company, 137 Park Street, Chelsea, Michigan 48118. Ticket prices start at $30 with special discounts for seniors, patrons 30 years or younger, members of the military, teachers, and groups (12+). For more information or to make reservations call (734) 433-7673 or go to www.purplerosetheatre.org.
In Review – Purple Rose: The end of the world couldn’t be funnier in ‘The Antichrist Cometh’
