The cast of “Hand to God”
finds the humanity — and tragic humor — in a dark, twisted tale, writes Matthew J. Palm.
Does the Devil make us do things? Or do we conjure him to explain our own failings?
Sounds like heady stuff. But part of the shrewdness of “Hand to God,” being presented by Generation Productions, is how playwright Robert Askins mixes such philosophical questions with jags of dark and raunchy comedy.
As directed by Kenny Howard, “Hand to God” finds the humanity — and all the tragic humor that comes with being human — in the very flawed characters of the twisted story.
It’s a weird play, sometimes making its points obviously and in one scene burying the sweetest dialogue behind graphic puppet sex that would make the felt creations of “Avenue Q” blush. A story thread that involves an underage sexual encounter sits uneasily as it’s played for laughs. That it works here is a testament to actors Rebecca Fisher and Andrew Romano, who make you invest in their characters from the get-go.
As the story starts, Margery (Fisher) is trying to get a teenage puppet club off the ground at her Lutheran church in a small Texas town. Margery and her son Jason (Jerry J. Jobe Jr.) have been floundering since the death of the family patriarch. Other teens in the puppet club are Jessica (Devan Seaman), who just might be interested in Jason, and Timothy (Romano), a high-school Romeo with a bad attitude. Pastor Greg (Jason Blackwater) runs the church — and has his eye on Margery.
Trouble soon arises: An angry, evil puppet named Tyrone is on Jason’s arm, speaking for himself — and not letting go.
Jobe gives the puppet Tyrone more personality than human Jason, whose emotional progression doesn’t register as sharply as it might. Fisher is a woman on the edge, earning laughs but also providing devastating glimpses of the effects of grief and guilt on the psyche. The supporting players all do fine work, especially Seaman, who makes magic just by looking skeptically around the dingy puppet club and drawling, “I’m more interested in Balinese shadow puppetry, but I’ll take what I can get.”
“Hand to God” raises issues of grief, loss and the need for humans to go to a dark place in order to once again find the light. This production finds lots of laughs along that journey.
A final note: Orlando’s theater community lost a dedicated patron and longtime Orlando Fringe Festival volunteer with the death of Carolyn Sprung this month. Her daughter, Bonnie Sprung, who works with many local theater groups, designed the cleverly rotating set for “Hand to God.” A blanket crocheted by her mom is used in the production; it’s a fitting tribute that Carolyn Sprung is honored in a production this fine.
What: ‘Hand to God’ Length: 1:45, including intermission Where: Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S. Magnolia Ave., Orlando When: 2 p.m. today; 8 p.m. Monday-Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Oct. 22 Cost: $31.67-$45.52 Call: 844-513-2014