HAV-EL, HAV-AL-IM
Means: Futility of futilities (vanity of vanities) or Absolutely futile. The NET Bible reads, Futile! or Futility of futilities! (Qoheleth or Ecclesiastes 1:2) A “devised ensemble-created theatre project,” Vain ran about two hours Saturday night, stretching the Hilltop Players and the Hilltop Audience–who, it may be assumed, needed stretching (or perhaps to be led in some revisioning?) in ways a Bible study circle might not, and most preaching will not.
The PLAY revealed, iteratively, Qoheleth’s theme, evoking all history and the human predicament; all strivings fall short save one, so that at the last God remains above all and in all. (Aside: The Apocalypse of John/Revelation of Jesus Christ also is best comprehended in a stage-play, which has been done.)
Vain is dark, light-in-the-dark, messy (like life), baptismic, edgy-monotonous, witty, banal, shallow, deep-beyond deep, accusatory, provocative . . . and having a program in hand does help. The characters are the seven deadly sins: Envy, Vanity, Greed, Sloth (Oh, that’s why the blanket and all the lying-around!), Wrath, Lust, Gluttony. Prof. Charlie Pepiton doubles in the roles of Wrath and Qoheleth, The Teacher. Prof. Shane Fuller did the direction and design.
How daring of the Hilltop Players! Perhaps no other production recently, if ever, has so encompassed the hapless condition of humanity-in-need-of-God. All are to be congratulated for their imagination and their stamina! And now the end of the matter, lest I say too much:
“Having heard everything, I have reached this conclusion: Fear God and keep his commandments, because this it the whole duty of man. / For God will evaluate every deed, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.” (Eccesiastes 12:13-14; NET Bible)
OH! One last thing: go, hear, and see. It’s more than worth your time.