I wasn't sure what to expect with Samson... after all, how can a family-friendly production possibly do any justice to a man whose story is hardly family-friendly and somehow stay true to the Biblical story? To my surprise, they pulled it off. Samson is relatable, sympathetic, charming, boyish, and yet deeply tortured and weighed down by a burden he never asked for, and could never carry in his own strength. While never getting to PG-13 or above, the story also doesn't shy away from or change the facts of his story, they are just not explicitly mentioned or shown. The 'battle' sequences are totally entertaining ("Adonai!" is such an awesome moment), the heart-tugging scenes really do tug, the humor is laugh-out-loud funny, the music incredibly fun and enjoyable, the sets imaginative and beautiful, and so many of the actors, Samson especially, brought their A-game. And the Temple collapse, oh my goodness. HOW?! Stunning, just absolutely stunning. To sum up, there are moments that are just plain fun and full of song and humor, and then there are moments that are so profound, they stopped me cold. I enjoyed this play immensely and have watched it over and over.

Sight and Sound does an amazing job of trying to accurately bring Bible stories to life. They incorporate clean humor, and it entertains quite the age range. The sets are great, but even better in person! With all the junk out there, this is a certain gem, and its certainly not "in the rough!"