Director David R. Gammons takes the material and finds successful ways of showcasing the idiosyncrasies of the damaged characters, effectively using top-notch actors including Boston's A-Lister Marianna Bassham. Like she, Josephine Elwood, Dario Ladani Sanchez, and Lewis D. Wheeler are superb in their roles as they meander through their struggles trying to find comfort in one another and likewise attempt to comfort each other.
But the glory belongs to Eliott Purcell as Jason who takes the challenges of the role and runs away with it with such ease and comfort; it's almost as frightening as the material itself. Purcell really is a wonder to behold and deserves credit for his performance.
The set design and lighting design are so intricate and impressive that they become characters of the show. Likewise for the outstanding sound by Andrew Duncan Will who creates an argument to bring back the Tony Award for Sound Design.
Yes, this is a great production.
Having said that --
Hand to God by Robert Askins is not my thing.
I am willing to go into new plays with an open mind, and I understand that swearing and violence have found comfortable homes in recent plays and musicals. However, when vulgar language and blasphemy reach over-the-top extremes such as this, I find myself removed from the situation.
Audiences receive the defense that underneath all of this is a "message" filled with "heart." I am sure that there are other ways of telling a story instead of catapulting the characters and situations into the stratosphere in Act One so that by the time Act Two rolls around, there is nowhere to go...but down.
But don't take my word for it.
Most of the audience members around me were roaring with laughter, and this play received accolades in both New York and in London.
Like I said, this is not my thing.
One can praise the production, but one prays for the piece.
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