Ruth: The Musical

Following in the sandal-prints of Godspell, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Jesus Christ Superstar, among others, Ruth is a new musical about a significant biblical figure. Ruth’s husband, and the husbands of her mother-in-law, Naomi, and sister-in-law, Orpah, are all killed. In her grief, Naomi (Lindsey Danvers), decides to return to her home of Bethlehem, and demands that Ruth (Jay Moussa-Mann, who is also the writer-director) and Orpah (Aja Dodd) go back to their families in Moab. But Ruth insists on accompanying Naomi and even embracing the older woman’s God as her own. Back in Bethlehem, Ruth works in the sometimes dangerous fields of Boaz (David Aryn), a good man who eventually falls in love with Ruth. The original songs here are nicely melodic and lyrically strong. And while Moussa-Mann doesn’t offer a lot of emotional range here as an actor, Aryn and Danvers are very good, backed by a strong supporting cast. Ruth: The Musical is not as glossy as similar musicals, but this should be seen as a potential blueprint for things to come, a work in progress that could one day land on Broadway. Recommended. Aud: P. (T. Keogh)