Taking centre stage

It requires time away from his family. It involves hours of work on top of his full-time job as a roofer. It elicits tears, heartache, and laughter. And it usually doesn’t pay a cent.

What drives Andrew Abrahams to make these sacrifices? Quite simply, Abrahams believes acting is his calling from God.

Lead theatrical roles, of the type coveted by all serious actors, regularly land on his doorstep: Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird; C.S. Lewis in Shadowlands; Otto Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank.

After more than 20 years acting experience with local theatre companies, church groups, and para-church organizations, Abrahams realizes that God is the giver of all gifts. Acting is his way of honouring the Lord. Abrahams loves the theatre and is willing to make sacrifices, not only to provide entertainment for audiences, but also to see God change lives.

Andrew Abrahams appearing in “Tilt of the Globe”

MBH: What drives you to tackle role after role, despite gruelling rehearsal schedules, time away from your family, and hours spent on set with virtual strangers?

AA: I love the challenge of the emotions involved. For example, Otto Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank was a difficult role to play. He had two daughters and I have two daughters, but Frank lost both his children. There’s a scene where he’s standing in the room, remembering, and he sees a glove worn by one of the girls. To make that scene real, I had to go there. I had to break down and weep.

I loved the reaction of the audience, knowing the scene had something to say, knowing people were moved and challenged by it.

MBH: How does acting connect with your faith?

AA: There’s always an element of faith when you act. I get so scared when I take on a new role, thinking: how am I going to do this? From the first read-through to opening night, I’m constantly praying and asking God for help.

Acting also takes me to a place where I find myself asking questions I might otherwise never ask. It makes me look at the good and bad things about myself. Sometimes I’m forced to see stuff I don’t really like. That’s when I really have to rely on God.

Once, I played the role of Satan in a drama called Broken Heart. We toured the show for more than a year. An audience member asked how I could play Satan day after day without being overwhelmed by evil. But I loved the role. Maybe it’s because we all have a sinful nature; it just came naturally. It made me think of how we all need Jesus every moment.

MBH: Does performing in front of a live audience ever feel risky to you?

AA: The potential for misunderstanding is huge, but there’s always something someone is going to get out of it.

MBH: How do you deal with the criticism or adulation that come when you perform?

AA: Surprisingly, I get more scrutiny and criticism from the church. I think [church] people expect something. They speak up if something doesn’t fit their Christian paradigm. I totally respect these people, but their criticism makes me ask, “Lord, is this the right thing?” It’s a big responsibility.

I once appeared in a show at a church in Abbotsford, playing the owner of a soup kitchen. A few characters in the play were prostitutes. Some audience members couldn’t handle seeing a prostitute on stage, and we heard about it big-time. But I knew the role ultimately honoured God.

On the other hand, I once was offered a great role in a movie. When I read the script, I realized it had a lot of questionable content. I prayed and asked God what to do. I couldn’t take the role. I had a passion to act, but I just couldn’t do it.

When I act, I won’t compromise my Christian morals. People tell me, when they find out I’m in a show, they don’t have to worry about seeing something inappropriate. It’s scary to be told that! Sometimes I wonder if I want the responsibility.

MBH: What role should Christian theatre companies hold in our communities? Should every performance end with a clear moral and biblical application, or is there room for less overtly Christian messages in the theatre?

AA: I believe in telling a story well, and there are lots of stories to be told. I enjoy learning from a true story. No matter how wild it is, it’s a true story and you can’t deny it. However, some true stories do wrap up nicely. Don’t rule out the more obviously Christian stories – there’s a place for both.

—Laura Kalmar

Andrew Abrahams is married to Ingrid and they have two daughters, Nicole, 10, and Chelsea, 8. He attends Northview Community (MB) Church, Abbotsford.