Show photos by Fable Light Photography
—Hannah Kneen
Rover Dramawerks’ mission is to present “treasures, new and rediscovered, for theatre ‘off the beaten path.’” They’ve hit the ball out of the park with their production of Making God Laugh by Sean Grennan. It’s a family comedy in four scenes, each set ten years apart beginning in 1980, as they meet to celebrate various holidays, starting with Thanksgiving.
The family consists of parents Bill (Scott Straus) and Ruthie (Vivian Reed) and their three grown children. There’s the oldest son Richard (Ken Schwartz), a former football star who no one seems to expect anything from anymore. He shows up for that first Thanksgiving decked out in a red shirt with the collar open, and enough bling to make sure he’s noticed—even if you somehow miss the blinding shirt color or his pink (sorry, salmon) car.
Richard always has his eye on the stock market, and gives us a nice look at the zeitgeist of each decade (one per scene), telling us about the sure-to-succeed investments he’s making. (Spoiler alert—they never succeed.) But though he is often overlooked inside the family, Richard has his good features, and Schwartz showcases some lovely character development for Richard throughout the play.
Next there’s Maddie (Andie Pace), the aspiring actress who is always getting harped on about her weight and her lack of a man. With her stubborn personality, Maddie often butts heads with her very traditional mother Ruthie, who has long-since perfected the art of the guilt trip, though not the art of creating an edible party dip. Pace has a very dry style of delivery that suits her character perfectly, and her interactions with her siblings are great fun to watch.
Finally we have Thomas (Aidan Fenton), lovingly called “Father Thomas” by his very proud—and very Catholic—mother. He often plays the role of peacekeeper in the family, along with his passive father Bill, who maintains a mild-mannered stance through much of the play. It makes the one moment Bill really tells someone off even more impactful (and satisfying).
Over the course of the play we get to know the family well. From their holiday traditions (the much-dreaded “fantasia dip” Ruthie makes every holiday) to their very different plans for their futures—and in Ruthie’s case, to her plans for the children’s lives.
It’s a long-ish play, running a bit over two hours, but Grennan’s script is well-written and well-performed, so it’s no hardship to sit back and enjoy both the comedy and the drama. The characters have a nuance and complexity to them that I appreciate. They may fight and occasionally mock or hurt each other. but there’s plenty of love in the center of it all that touches the heart.
The tech is exactly what it needs to be for this show: simple but effective. The few sound effects and intermittent bits of music (designed by Robbi Holman) are unobtrusive and function perfectly within the scenes. Rachel Velasco’s set feels like an old family home that’s been lived in for many years. The painting of The Last Supper hanging centered over everything is a nice touch, and the costumes designed by Kerra Sims and Glynda Welch show us the transitions in time, and also how the characters themselves are developing and changing.
This production has a stellar cast, too! Reed’s Ruthie is gorgeously done. She can go from sweet with her husband to passive-aggressive with her children—and then to piteous or heartwarming—and I never once felt she was difficult to believe onstage. Straus’s Bill has some wonderful moments with her; and even though the marriage may not be perfect, there is clearly both love and respect between them, and it makes it hard not to smile while you watch. The three siblings, despite arguments, also have some pretty perfect moments of lighthearted teasing. The cast works together beautifully, finding the sincere and the funny moments with equal ease.
The play gets its name from a quote attributed to Woody Allen: “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans…” As in real life, these characters learn the truth of that proverb well—and what’s more, find out it’s not always a bad thing when plans go awry.
Rover Dramawerks has delivered on its long-held promise to present theatre that’s "off the beaten path.” Rarely have I seen a play that felt so believable, so true to life, and with such a tight grasp on the unpredictable twists and turns life may take. You never know how people will react…but it’s fun to watch!
WHEN: November 5-22, 2026
WHERE: Cox Playhouse, 1517 H Ave, Plano TX
WEB: https://www.roverdramawerks.com/
