God Meant it for Good
Summary
God Mean it for Good is another impressive production put on by The Logos Theatre. A Biblically-accurate retelling of the story of Joseph and his coat of many colors (Genesis 37), this play presents the complex story of his dreams, being sold into slavery in Egypt, his eventual rise to power, and the eventual salvation of his entire family during a famine.
Assessment
As with all Logos Theatre productions, the production quality — particularly in the sets, costuming, and stage direction — are unmatched and spectacular. Although on a less complex degree than The Scarlet Pimpernel, God Meant it for Good provides a rich picture of this ancient story through set design.
The story often puts Joseph in the background, highlighting the family dynamics around him or the cultural ins and outs of Ancient Egypt. Joseph is the key to the entire story but he is often relegated to the background (or thrown into a pit) as it focuses on the motivations of the people around him.
Light-o-Meter
Writing: 6 out of 7 Little Lights
Stage Direction: 7 out of 7 Little Lights
Sets: 7 out of 7 Little Lights
Acting: 5 out of 7 Little Lights
Theological Message: 6 out of 7 Little Lights
Overall: 6 out of 7 Little Lights
Talk
I absolutely love this play! The story of Joseph in Genesis 37 has always had a soft place in my heart with its message and purpose. And, once again, Logos Theatre knocks it out of the park with stage direction, sets, and costuming!
I was forced to watch it through a DVD (someday I will make it out to see a Logos Theater play in person!), rather than live, but this production carried itself through that unfortunate hurdle with ease and grace.
God Meant it for Good was not a musical, unlike The Scarlet Pimpernel, which I actually found quite enjoyable and allowed the story to shine. There were some odd narration pieces that I found inconsistent to the rest of the play’s flow, but they made sense in terms of presenting the entire story.
I am a little unsure about the time taken to depict an ancient Egyptian ritual, although I understand it’s necessity in terms of stage set up and costuming — and did find how they presented the inside and outside of the ritual chambers unique and fascinating — it felt out of place in a Biblical story. While it may have served a purpose in highlighting the differences between the Egyptian paganism and Joseph and his family’s worship of the One True God, that link was not well-presented and left the ritual sort of jutting out into the story without any balance.
That said, this is a relatively minor thing and doesn’t detract from my overall enjoyment of the play! It was a beautiful and well-told rendition of the story of Joseph.
Wrap-up
While less complex of a production than some of the Logos Theatre’s other productions, God Meant it for Good is a faithful and loving telling Joseph’s story. From the set design to the costuming to the casting, it is clear that every detail was lovingly pored over and painstakingly crafted. This is a play that is fit for the entire family and will bring the tale of Genesis 37 to life in a true and excellent fashion to all who watch it.
Where to Enjoy
Unfortunately, this play is no longer being presented in a live performance, but you can find it on DVD at the website below!
Logos Theatre Website: God Meant it for Good 2019 DVD - The Academy of Arts Ministries
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