‘God Committee’ opens at PowPAC

Do you think you could play God when it comes to choosing who lives and who dies?

PowPAC, Poway’s Community Theatre, is asking that question to audiences with its new drama “God Committee,” which opens 8 p.m. Friday at 13250 Poway Road in the Lively Center and runs for four weekends, closing Sunday, March 29.

Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.

Tickets are available on-line at www.powpac.org, and are $20 general admission; $17 for students, seniors and active duty military. There is a $1.50 handling charge per ticket purchased online. The price for tickets purchased at the door is slightly higher. Additionally, there is a $2 surcharge for opening night, which includes a post-performance reception with the cast.

“It’s a show that isn’t done very often,” said director Jay Mower. “God Committee,” written by Mark St. Germain, takes place in the conference room of a fictional hospital where seven people — four doctors, a registered nurse, a Catholic priest who is also a lawyer and a disabled social worker — meet to decide which of three patients will receive a heart that is currently being couriered through heavy downtown traffic.

“It’s literally a life or death decision,” said Mower. “There are many factors that are considered, like age. One patient has already had a heart transplant which they rejected. Another young man’s father has promised to donate $75 million to the hospital.”

Mower described the show as “heavy,” but said it was because this was real life. “I don’t believe the purpose of theater is always to make people laugh,” he said. “I feel like I’ve been successful if I make people think.”

“God Committee” features seven characters, all of whom are being played by experienced theater actors, said Mower, ranging in age from being in their 20s to in their 70s.

The cast includes Brandon Kaye Thomas as Dr. Kierra Banks; Katharine Rex as Nella Larkin, R.N.; Michael Scahill as Dr. Alex Gorman; Scott Perry as Dr. Jack Klee; Susan Bray as Dr. Ann Ross; Jim Clevenger as Father Charles Dunbar; and Zackary Bonin as Domenick Piero.

In his director’s notes, Mower wrote that he wanted to make the audience think about what decision they would make if they were on the committee. “What makes a life worth saving? Good deeds? Supportive family? Youth? Future potential? Money? This play will make you think about these issues and hopefully develop an improved understanding, and added empathy and respect, for the medical professionals faced with such difficult life and death decisions on a daily basis. What would you do?” Mower wrote.