“In The Beginning” wasn’t the original plan, at least not for Dallas Theater Center.They had planned on presenting a set of mystery plays that were ultimately deemed too racy for Dallas but new artistic director, Kevin Moriarty, has made it his goal to engage the community.

Taking a different route, the direction eventually decided to explore the questions that arise from the first book of The Bible. The play is based entirely upon research done by the directors and company, as overseen by an advisory council containing local religion experts, theologians, priests and professors. These interpretations, explanations and the words from the text lend themselves to a play that challenges the audience to ask questions.

The cast is made up of nine professional actors and six Southern Methodist University theater students that form a diverse representation of ideas, backgrounds and age groups. The first 10 chapters of Genesis are spoken, acted out, sung and remarked upon from the perspectives of then and today. The overall theme of the play is the asking of questions. From the moment the lights are dimmed and the cast appears for the first time, they explain that they are merely going through the Bible and asking questions. In the second act of the play, the actors ask the audience questions, such as “Why did God place the forbidden tree in the middle of the garden, instead of placing it out of reach?” This time of question and answer offers the audience an opportunity to react and talk back to the play.

In the play, there is not a hint of sacrilege or disrespect given to the treatment of the Bible. No answers are offered and there is no conclusion made before the final bows. One of the lines from the play says that the creation of the world according to Genesis is like “a symphony.” Even so, this play is a beautiful wondering of the possibilities that come from human perspective.

Whether you think of the account of Genesis literally, metaphorically or find you don’t think of it at all, “In the Beginning” will ask at least one question that will cause you to stop and think. I left the theater with no assurances but these words spoken by God, “It was good.” (Genesis 1:10)