Ailantha
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact

Hand To God

2/12/2017

0 Comments

 
     Yesterday, Saturday afternoon, Tom and I headed to the Short North Stage,
Picture
...a small, vintage theater,
...in the Short North District of Columbus,
Picture
Picture
Picture
...to see "Hand To God," a phenomenal dark comedy by Robert Askins about a puppet, made by a shy, awkward  teenager for his church's puppet ministry, that becomes possessed by the Devil,
Picture
Picture
...or perhaps by the too-long repressed emotions of a desperate adolescent tormented by his embarrassing over-bearing mother, the local bully, and his secret longing for a girl in his church group. 
       In any case, the manifestation of this demon-puppet seems to act as a catalyst for the outbreak of irrepressible errant behavior among the characters who play out their primal impulses in the church basement amidst the arts and crafts, cheery bulletin boards and religious posters. 
       Though "Hand To God" is a comedy - as attested to  by the non-stop laughter of the audience -   the characters are so captivating and the story so thought-provoking that one could spend hours - as Tom and I did after the performance - discussing the play's psychological and spiritual motifs. 
       All the acting -  human as well as puppet - was over-the-top wonderful, and often very athletic as the story frenetically rolled along in two fast-paced 40-minute acts.  Especially  wonderful was  Danny Turek, who played the dual roles of Jason, the beleaguered teen, and Tyrone, his possessed-puppet alter-ego.
     I cornered the play's director, Edward Carignan, during the intermission and again after the performance to  congratulate him on his work and to talk a little about the issues brought out in the play.  Mr. Carignan shared with me that the play's author was from the same kind of small Texas town that the play is set in and that the author, like the play's characters, was raised in a church background, as many of us have been, where one's quest for happiness is tied to one's church participation - which doesn't always bring happiness after all.
      The stage set of a homey church basement was simple but perfect. Especially clever was the inclusion, among the other inspirational wall decorations, of a poster of President Donald Trump.

Picture
     Though the photograph of The President at first seems like a patriotic tribute, as the drama playing out in the church basement morphs into a libido-laced Id-fest, one has more the impression of the Patron Saint of Id smiling down from the wall and pouring out his perverse blessing. 
       In truth the director brilliantly manages to bring to this play, which was written over six years ago and is essentially a study of the characters, the added facet of a cautionary tale for the time and place we now live in.
         "Hand To God" will be playing at the Short North Stage until the first weekend in March.  If you live in Columbus, can afford the $30 ticket price, and aren't offended by R-rated scenes and  language, I sincerely recommend that you go see this play at this venue. 
            And when you do, be sure and come half an hour early to visit Ethel's Stage Left, the theater's cozy, friendly bar,

Picture
Picture
Picture
...where you can have a drink and/or make a hand-puppet  before the performance.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
            You can get tickets for "Hand To God" at  http://www.shortnorthstage.org/calendar/v/553
       Go see it if you can.  It'll activate your brain cells.  And your heart cells.

Picture
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    "Tropical Depression" 
    by Patti Liszkay
    ​Buy it on Amazon:

    https://www.amzn.com/1685131832

    Picture
    "Hail Mary"
    by Patti Liszkay
    Buy it on Amazon:

    https://www.amzn.com/1684334888

    Picture
    "Equal And Opposite Reactions"
     by Patti Liszkay
    Buy it on Amazon:

    http://amzn.to/2xvcgRa
    or from
    The Book Loft
    of German Village,
    Columbus, Ohio
    Picture
    Or check it out at the Columbus Metropolitan Library
    Picture

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013

    RSS Feed

    I am a traveler just visiting this planet and reporting various and sundry observations,
    hopefully of interest to my fellow travelers.

    Categories

    All


























































































Proudly powered by Weebly