The Post-Standard News
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May 7, 1997
Section: CNY
Edition: City
Page: D4
Column: Joan Vadeboncoeur

Appleseed Productions has been building an impressive stable of actors and actresses in its brief existence.

Artistic director and founder C.J. Young believes in giving all of them onstage exposure. So, for "God's Favorite," as he 
did for "Macbeth" last season, he has double-cast roles. It was acceptable for the Shakespearean tragedy. But it makes 
a rocky road for the Neil Simon comedy, where timing is king.

The chief problem rests not with the shared role of Ben, one of the obnoxious twins, but with the key role of Sidney 
Lipton, the messenger from God who "dumps" on Joe Benjamin.

For those who don't know the comedy, God has made a bet with Satan that his favorite, Joe, will renounce him under 
the onslaught of fire, freeze and unbearable itching.

The interplay between Joe and Sidney demands expert timing, and, with Wolf Warrens only playing half of the 
performances, the requirement isn't met. Warrens is amusing, but doesn't get the full measure of the Simon creation. 
Thus, he doesn't steal the show, as the character often does.

Tom Minion's Joe is the linchpin and deservedly so. Sorely tried first by his family, then by God, he's solid as a rock. 
As his wife, Linda Ann Hill goes over the top, which is out of sync with the rest of the cast. Yet the wife's devotion to 
her jewels and her other idiosyncrasies do evoke laughter.

Also scoring well is Tracy Randall as the other twin - self-absorbed with the notion of rape.

Young and Ann M. Rott shared the directorial assignment and have come up with some deft physical comedy. But the 
constraints of rehearsal time in community theater made it unwise to undertake the Lipton double casting.

Copyright (c), 1997, The Herald Company.