Neil Simon’s ‘God’s Favorite!‘ finds favor as a beacon of light in a fun, contemporary retelling of the Biblical epic at the Long Beach Playhouse.
Back row: (lt to rt) Joe (Lee Samuel Tanng), Rose (Jessica Plotin), Morris (Stephen Saatjin) and Maddy (Geraldine Fuentes). Middle Row: (lt to rt) Sarah (Samantha Cristol), David (Sean Farrell) and Ben (Charlie Rodriguez) Front Row: Sidney Lipton (Amanda Karr) Starring in Neil Simon’s ‘God’s Favorite’ running now through May 3, 2025 at the Long Beach Playhouse. Photo by Mike Hardy.
Currently playing on the Mainstage at the Long Beach Playhouse, Neil Simon’s ‘God’s Favorite!‘ delivers an passionate, humorous, modern-day twist on the Biblical epic tale of ‘The Book of Job‘.
Lee Samuel Tanng is exceptional as Joe Benjamin, the business tycoon who finds finds his luck change after an encounter with Sidney Lipton, played marvelously by the energetic Amanda Karr, who informs him that he is ‘God’s favorite‘ and that the Almighty and the Evil One have placed a bet on how quickly a wealthy man will renounce the Lord once all his success and health have been taken away from him.
Tanng’s performance effortlessly captures the frustration of a man struggling with his family and life’s complications, embodying the modern-day Job perfectly. Co-lead, Karr’s Sidney Lipton, the quirky messenger sent to test Joe’s faith—a character that was actually Satan in the Biblical text, is undeniably charming, full puppy-like energy let loose on the Mainstage. Together, Tanng and Karr have fantastic chemistry, making their performances a joy to watch.
Charlie Rodriguez as Ben and Samantha Cristol as Sarah add to the humor with wonderful comedic timing, while Jessica Plotin offers a touching portrayal as Joe’s loving wife. Although in the Biblical story, Job’s wife was part of his punishment, Plotin’s version of Sarah is a supportive and compassionate presence, offering the perfect balance to the chaos surrounding her.
Sean Farrell’s David, the eldest son, brings a cantankerous, comedic energy to the production that is both endearing, evoking comparisons to Rob Reiner’s Michael from ‘All in the Family‘. The ensemble cast, including Stephen Saatjian as Morris and Geraldine Fuentes as Maddy, rounds out the production, delivering strong performances that complement the show’s fast-paced humor and thought-provoking undertones.
Director James Rice masterfully brings this classic to life with a talented cast, though I did find myself wishing the family dynamic leaned more into a WASPish identity, as the Northeastern Jewish accents occasionally slipped throughout the performance.
Set Designer David Scaglione and Lighting Designer Miranda Richard made tremendous use of the space, enhancing the comedic and emotional beats with creative set pieces and evocative lighting choices that set the perfect tone for each scene.
Simon’s ability to combine sharp wit with profound themes of faith, family, and morality results in a four-star experience that’s both entertaining and thought-provoking still resonates 50 years later. ‘God’s Favorite!‘ is an energetic and laughter-filled take on an age-old epic, and this production has it all—humor, heart, and a stellar cast.
Neil Simon’s ‘God’s Favorite!‘ runs on the Mainstage at the Long Beach Playhouse from now through May 3, 2025.
To purchase tickets for Neil Simon’s ‘God’s Favorite!‘ on the Mainstage at the Long Beach Playhouse visit: https://lbplayhouse.org/event/neil-simons-gods-favorite/.
Summary
Neil Simon’s ‘God’s Favorite!‘ runs on the Mainstage at the Long Beach Playhouse proves that legends never day as this cast brings to life a a 50 plus year old contemporary retelling of a Biblical epic to life.
