![\"Amazing](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/exploringourmatrix\/files\/2014\/10\/AmazingGrace0718rsc-558x1024.jpg\")
The story offers no soppy sentimentalism, nor a heavy-handed or preachy\u00a0approach\u00a0to religion. John Newton\u2019s character is angry at God, resentful at the death of his deeply devout mother, and convinced that the unanswered prayers he uttered for her healing are clear evidence that\u00a0God and religion are only so much deception. His doubts and defiance are given a clear voice with no attempt to dilute them. And it makes the story of his redemption all the more powerful.\u00a0Although God and the Bible play key roles in that story, so too does the determination and faithful love of Mary.<\/p>\n
In this, it is very reminiscent of the musical\u00a0Les Miserables<\/em>, which offers a\u00a0story with religion profoundly woven into its core and openly expressed in its lyrics. The songs and the story are comparably powerful, if not indeed more so, given that the story is a true one.<\/p>\n It is a\u00a0phenomenal\u00a0cast<\/a> that performed the musical in Chicago.\u00a0\u00a0Josh Young<\/a> and Erin Mackey were incredible in the leading roles, but it seemed as though every role was played by someone perfect to convey the character, to sing the songs\u00a0and\u00a0play the role. Chuck Cooper as \u201cThomas\u201d\u00a0is thoroughly persuasive as the slave who helped raise John, who rescues John only to have John\u00a0betray him, and who confronts John with powerful rebukes at key moments. Laiona Michelle as Nanna, who serves a similar role in relation to Mary. One wonderful thing about this is the fact that we see African characters playing decisive roles in working towards their own liberation. There is no sense that the musical offers a simplistic portrayal of white oppressors who then also become saviors. Characters are complex and deep. I also appreciated the depiction of strong female characters.<\/p>\n Some moments are particularly powerful \u2013 such as when John Newton finds himself in Sierra Leone, and in attempt to verify his claim about his identity, the princess who has captured him asks him to show he is educated by asking him to read from the Bible. After a brief talk about\u00a0whether the book is \u201cmagic,\u201d and John\u2019s reference to it being connected to England\u2019s \u201cnational delusion\u201d and to more people having died because of that book that the princess can imagine, the princess has it opened at random \u2013 and John finds himself reading the story of the prodigal son.<\/p>\n The special effects were also phenomenal \u2013 from the cannon battle in which\u00a0a ship John is on sinks, to Thomas\u2019\u00a0rescue of John when he is drowning.\u00a0Such a vivid depiction of an underwater rescue was not something I expected to see on stage!<\/p>\n If the musical is powerful, it is amazing to learn\u00a0not just the true story it tells, but the story of its composition, not by a well-known and experienced composer of musicals, but by a former police officer<\/a> with a vision.<\/p>\n I\u00a0could go one. But adding additional words will not do any better justice to the experience, which impacted me on an emotional level. And so let me conclude by saying\u00a0what I assume is already clear:\u00a0I highly<\/em> recommend that anyone who appreciates musical theater \u2013 and even people who normally do not or think they do not \u2013 go see Amazing Grace. I found it not merely satisfying but inspirational on every level \u2013 composition, story, performance, costumes, effects, props, venue, and message. But if you\u2019re not entirely persuaded, take a look at, and have a listen to, these:<\/p>\n