WINNIPEG, MB, Canada, October 3, 2002 — Admit it, it's hard to read through the Bible. Not many of us take the time, and if we do, it often boils down to a cursory glance before bed, or a quick perusal over morning coffee.
But what if you got a glimpse of the big picture behind it all, the chance to really experience the story? It might inspire you to open up that dusty book once again.
It is a picture chock full of intrigue and debate and scandal and love, the heights of ecstasy and the depths of despair. It started with creation, and concludes with an eternity spent with the Creator.
"The Big Picture," an original play from Toronto's Brookstone Theatre founder Dennis Hassell, offers a broad narrative of the Bible in dramatic story form, shining a light on God's promises to His creation throughout Scripture.
"It is an opportunity to see the Bible as one story. A love story," states the program. "Like a huge, brilliant rainbow, it arches over the whole human story--and over our own stories."
 
Scenes from "The Big Picture" (Brookstone Performing Arts)
The two-hour production, touring with major sponsorship from the Canadian Bible Society, has earned kudos from Christian and secular reviewers for both quality and creativity.
There are no set or costume changes, but with the innovative use of a few props, music and lighting, the audience is carried into another place that spans centuries. Just five actors seamlessly switch from scene to scene, portraying God's interaction with major characters from creation through to Revelation, in a clever and oft-time humourous, script.
But be forewarned: while taken from Scripture, the dialogue is meant to tell the story, rather than replicate each verse for verse. In fact, Hassell says, "there is no time for dogmatic hair-splitting, only for pure storytelling." While it is historically accurate to the Bible, you have to use your imagination; the exact conversations have been altered for dramatic effect.
The story is that of the Bible, yes, but in a compressed form. Consider it comparable to a zip file for your computer--you can save dozens of photos and documents, but in a compressed format that allows much information in a small space. You don't loose the meaning, the crux of the thing, and chances are your appetite will be whetted for more.
| "By focusing on events where God and man intersect, Hassell hits on a unique and effective way to illustrate how God's promise passes from generation to generation." |
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- Kelly Henschel
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Hassell spends significant on the Old Testament--those events that were so key in the later message brought by Jesus. Hassell sets the stage for a poignant portrayal of Jesus' life and death and a powerful challenge to the church from Revelation. There might be a complaint that he skips over much of Acts and the Pauline epistles, but one assumes this is because of time constraints.
By focusing on events where God and man intersect, Hassell hits on a unique and effective way to illustrate how God's promise passes from generation to generation. "The Big Picture" reminds its audience of the fact in a fresh, challenging way.
The Big Picture is currently on tour across Canada. For performance dates, please visit the Brookstone Theatre web site.
Source: Kelly Henschel, Christian Week. This review is reprinted with permission from ChristianWeek.
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