An array of life situations are being brought to stage from March 15 to 17 at Harbison Theatre in Irmo with WOW Production’s original play, “If You Only Knew…Why I Struggle to Trust God.”

“This is a gospel play. When you come, be prepared. There’s a lot of emotional levels… and the actors coming face to face with problems they previously had or didn’t realize they had,” actress Shelly Rodriguez said. “You will laugh but you will definitely cry.”

Rodriguez plays a woman named Cheryl, a church-going woman who is engaged to a man in the military.

“She struggles feeling like, ‘Why this, why now?’ She’s trying to be the voice of reason to her other friends going through similar situations,” Rodriguez said, noting that her character is always pushing her chaos to the side to make sure her friends are taken care of. 

“She’s trying to navigate her faith and test her faith,” she said. 

This is not the first time WOW Productions has had their play at Harbison Theatre. 

Producer and Writer Tangie Beaty says this is the first play the company has performed at Harbison Theatre. However, Beaty has updated the play and made changes throughout the years.

“I actually rewrite every show. Every show, I want to change that or rewrite that,” Beaty said. “We’ve had to update the lingo and had to update what people are going through. From 2011 to 2024, there’s been a lot of life changes and struggles… pre-pandemic to now.”

The show has 21 actors but there’s a main group of nine actors and actresses. 

Nikki, Taylor and Wendy are three of the main lead actresses who carry themselves well in public but in private, they have a range of issues and emotions they are dealing with. According to the production’s website, the play is “a powerful gospel play that promises to captivate heart and provoke thought.”

There are heavy burdens, secret shame and a struggle to trust God.

“The show itself is about the three women running from their past and now the past has caught up to them and they’re faced with, ‘Do they put on a mask?’ while suffering silently,” she said. 

Beaty wants to emphasize this isn’t a play just for Christians to come and enjoy, as anyone can get something out of it. She does say that it’s not for anyone under 10 because the content may be too heavy but she says it’s appropriate for teens and adults.

For example, one woman is going through the effects of having an abortion with other cast members who are experiencing something similar. Other issues include depression, suffering marriages and family members or friends in the military. 

“Each and every character has a different life situation. Some may be similar but they’re all different,” Rodriguez said.

The play is about two and a half hours long with the Friday and Saturday show at 7:30 p.m. and the Sunday show at 3 p.m.