Play tells story of Noah, ark

The Enopion Theater Company will bring the biblical tale of Noah and the Ark to life Thursday through Saturday at the Jabez Sanford Hardin Performing Arts Center.

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The Great Big Gopher Boat is an original production by Enopion and tells the story of the 100-year construction of the ark and the time Noah, his family and the animals spent aboard the vessel.

Enopion, an Augusta-based Christian theater troupe, bases all its productions on the Bible. Director Carol Rezzelle said the Old Testament gave little information about Noah as a person and the year the animals and family spent on the ark.

She said the troupe has worked to create a "human element" with Noah and his family and to explain that they were all regular people given a tremendous task by God. Rezzelle said the troupe carefully created a believable narrative of what a year in a cramped boat would be like and it shows the funny and the painful parts of the voyage.

"It's funny, it's emotional, it's happy and sad; a real mix of emotions," she said.

The play also contains a plot twist that might come as a surprise to some in the audience, she said.

Of the 18 songs in the play, many are original and cover several genres from traditional hymns to swing to contemporary Christian. The play also features a massive replica of the inside of the ark, which Rezzelle said will accompany the troupe to performances in Aiken and Statesboro, Ga.

"I don't think you're going to see anything like this in Augusta," she said of the set. "We hope to bring it back again if it is well received next year."

Performances will be held each night at 7 p.m. and a special matinee will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for children and $10 each for groups of 10 or more. To purchase tickets or for more information, contact Enopion at (706) 771-7777 or visit www.enopion.com.