Reviewed by Tony Annicone
Burbage Theatre Company’s second show of their ninth season is “Hand to God” by Robert Askins. It’s the Rhode Island premiere of a dark comedy that not only leaves you laughing but contains strong dramatic moments blended together splendidly by director Kate Kataja. The show also contains perfect and spectacular technical effects. Set in a Lutheran church basement in Texas, “Hand to God” centers on a shy boy, Jason, who lost his father six months ago, and his relationship to his mother, a teacher; the church’s pastor, and two other students, the girl next door and the bully. They are involved with a “puppet” ministry when Jason’s puppet takes on its own persona, a darker side of the boy who speaks some of the thoughts he is keeping bottled up inside him. Askins uses the name Tyrone (based on the Tyrone Family in “A Long Day’s Journey into Night”) for this evil puppet. The main point is the lack of communication between mother and son on the loss of his father which he blames on his mother overfeeding him. These feelings fester into huge misunderstandings between them which leads to things being hammered out after some very dark and troubling occurrences of violence. The brilliance of this five member cast pours out to the audience all night long which wins them many laughs and a spontaneous standing ovation at the close of the show.
Kataja gives each member of the cast a chance to shine in their roles. She directs the violent occurrences at the end of Act 1 and near the end of Act 2 marvelously, making the audience gasp in horror while laughing at the same time. Brian Kozak as Jason/Tyrone delivers a tour de force performance in this huge role. He makes the transition from person to puppet seamlessly. He struggles with keeping control of his emotions at first but Tyrone keeps taking over. He also delivers part of the Who’s on First routine from Abbott and Costello with hilarious results. Brian not only makes you laugh uproariously but also rips your heart out as he deals with the demons inside of him. He delivers a phenomenal performance as these two diametrically opposite characters. Bravo!
Melissa Penick also delivers the goods marvelously as Margery, the grieving mother who tries to find solace in teaching religion class to these three students while fending off the veiled advances of the pastor of the church. Her mental breakdown is handled fabulously as she hurls chairs around, throws things and urges the class bully to rip a poster off the wall and eat it which has to be seen to be believed. The scenes with her in the car with her son and at the end of the show are fabulously performed. (The miming of the car driving is perfect.) Andrew Iacovelli is a hoot as the school bully who hurls insults and foul language at everyone in the cast. His seduction of Margery is hysterical as are his posturing and overbearing actions are breathtaking. There is a stunning action that happens at the end of Act 1 that is extremely well done. Andrew interacts wonderfully with all the cast members with his bad boy behavior.
Pretty Maggie Papa is sweet as Jessica, the girl next door until the second act when she brings a lady puppet onstage to confront Tyrone’s bad behavior. Their madcap escapades are hilarious, with these two puppets necking and doing other naughty things that need to be seen to be believed. Maggie does a great job throughout the show but really shines in this sequence. Michael Thibeault also portrays Pastor Greg with at first smarmy charm but grows more intelligent and upright as the show progresses. His confrontation with Tyrone is stunning to behold. I don’t want to give away too many details and spoil it for the audience. So be sure to catch, “Hand to God” a tremendously thought provoking show that will have you laughing at the naughtiness of the puppet’s interactions with all the characters in this terrifically acted and directed show. Stage manager Ava Mascena runs a tight ship and the puppet design by Roger Lemlin and dialect coaching by Becky Gibel are the needed finishing touches to another spectacular show at Burbage Theatre.
HAND TO GOD (14 November to 8 December)
Burbage Theatre Company, 59 Blackstone Ave, Pawtucket, RI
1(401)4848-0355 or www.burbagetheatre.org
