The Christians
"I have a powerful urge to communicate, but I find the distance between us insurmountable." Pastor Paul tells his congregation that this is what he wrote on a note he passed to a woman on a plane in an attempt to woo her. (It worked, as the woman, Elizabeth ( Linda Powell ), later became his wife.) It's also a fitting epigraph to The Christians , Lucas Hnath 's new play, succinctly explaining the Christians' struggles. Paul ( Andrew Garman ) is the leader of a megachurch, and on this particular Sunday, the pastor is telling his flock about his new understanding of God's word, and what that means for his church. This new interpretation of the Holy Scripture doesn't sit well with others in the congregation, including the associate pastor, Joshua ( Larry Powell ). As the schism shows itself, Paul invites Joshua to leave the congregation. We later hear from the church elder, Jay ( Philip Kerr ), who expresses the board's concerns with the division. (...