“Hand To God”

[rating=5] Six years ago, at the Victory Gardens Theatre, Chicago audiences were treated to a special play, “Hand To God” written by Robert Askins and Sharpley directed by Gary Griffin. That was the year that Chicago saw just what a find Alec Weissman was as Jason/Tyrone ( the main character). It was a Jeff Award winner on several levels and as I watched the Paramount Theatre production in their new Copley Theatre, I felt that under the direction of Trent Stork with a solid tech crew and an amazing cast, “history is about to repeat itself”. Six years ago I said that this play is a MUST SEE! Let me repeat myself- “this production is a Must See and worth the trip to Aurora!

This is an amazing story about people and their lives. The main characters are Margery ( Monica West is a powerhouse) a recently widowed mother of Jason ( August Forman within minutes made me forget just how wonderful Weissman was). They are in their church basement where Margery is working with the children on creating a puppet show for the church. Partly to get her mind off the recent loss of her husband and partly to get her son back on track. He and his puppet are very close to each other and as the story unfolds we see that the strength of his puppet, Tyrone is about to change his life forever.

The other “kids” in the puppet class are Jessica ( deftly handled by Felicia Oduh) and Timmy (  handled to perfection by Jordan Moore) who is only in the class to be close to Margery , who he has the “hots” for. Timmy is not really interested in puppetry, only the need to be close to Margery, who he feels is the perfect woman for him.

The other character in the play is Pastor Greg ( Adam Wesley Brown captures the frustration of this loner with just the right touch).

The whole story takes place in Cypress Texas, a small community and  the creativity of the set (Jonathan Berg-Einhorn) is amazing. The walls turn allowing us to go from one area of the church to another, and also to Jason’s bedroom as well as a car coming on stage during a fight scene between mother and son. All this shows just how they do things right in Aurora! Since puppetry plays an important role in this production, I guess a tip of the hat for Spencer Lott, the puppetry coach. I must say that Forman works  Tyrone as if they were one. Ms Oduh and her puppet also work together quite well. In the second act, when the puppets have sex, you will not believe your eyes. Let’s face it, this is not “Sesame Street”, but a church basement in Texas, where anything can happen…and does!

While this is a show that has puppets as a major part of the story, it is not one for children. There is a lot of adult information, language, sexual situations and while it sounds serious, and in fact is, there is a great deal of humor and laughter in what you will see.  I certainly do not want to give it all up, as I truly want you to see this production, but try to imagine a sad young boy, who has had very little experience with life, finding that the puppet on his hand gives him a new voice and a power that he could never imagine. Is he possessed? Is he just going through growing pains?

Do we all make choices based on facts or do feelings enter into the picture? If we do believe in God, just how much faith do we put into an all powerful being(?) helping us to find our way in life? Can our mind overpower our feelings and take us down a path where we might never go? Jason’s “demons” take him away from reality and it takes a great deal to bring him back.

While many may think that this play is more about religion and faith, I truly think it is about people finding themselves. Jason blames his mother for his father passing away. Margery blames the world for what her life has become and now that she is alone, her son is all that she has, but what if he doesn’t need her the way she needs to be needed? The pastor is alone in life and sees the widow as a possible answer to his prayers, but he is nothing like Margery needs. Timmy, a teenager is exactly what she needs- a brute who will do anything to please the “love of his life”! Jessica is just in need of someone to care about her, period. Of course, Jason is in the greatest of needs and I must say Forman made the character of Jason/Tyrone theirs .Look into the souls of each character in this story and get a glimpse of how loss can take on new meaning.

The tech crew added a great deal to this solid production. Lighting (Cat Wilson), sound( Jeffrey Levin), costumes (Yvonne L. Miranda), projections (Pail Dezeil) and props (Aimee Plant).The fight director who also handled the blood and gore is Jon Beal and the intimacy director was Jyreika Guest, who even got the puppets involved!

“Hand Of God” is the second of four plays in Paramount Theatre’s BOLD series that has re-opened the newly reconstructed Copley Theatre and will continue through July 10th

Performances are as follows:

Stage: Copley Theatre

Show Type: Comedy/Drama

Box Office: 630-896-6666

www.paramountaurora.com/

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Hand To God”.