*God's Donkey: A Play on Moses

A Traveling Jewish Theatre, 470 Florida; 399-1809. $12.50-25. Thurs-Sat, 8pm (no show Thurs/17); Sun, 2 and 7pm. Through April 27.

Moses stutters and God scats in Aaron Davidman, Corey Fischer, and Eric Rhys Miller's lively retelling of the biblical tale of Exodus, which returns from a national tour to welcome Passover and close out A Traveling Jewish Theatre's 24th season. Fischer directs Davidman and Miller (who play Moses and God, respectively, among sundry roles), with musical accompaniment by the versatile and mesmerizing Daniel Hoffman, in a pert and inventive blend of comedy, drama, movement, and song. Traipsing across Richard Olmsted's pleasing and evocative desertscape, Davidman and Miller trace Moses's development from a pampered foundling in the Egyptian royal household, through his personal and political awakening, and to his reluctantly assumed role as liberator of his people. For all its levity and good-natured irreverence, the play wrestles intelligently with contradictions and ambiguities in a story that marks the beginning of "history" and modern identity for the Jewish people. (Avila)