After the great success of the musical JEKYLL & HYDE, the English Theatre presents the next successful contribution to the theme "The Monster in me". Playing here through April 29 is the Broadway success "Hand to God" by Robert Askins. The play is bitterly wicked, deliciously politically incorrect, surprising and enigmatic. It tells the story of shy Jason (Nicholas Hart) who, after the death of his father, finally wants some normalcy in his life. In the puppetry group led by his mother Margery (Sarah Waddell) at the church congregation of Cypress, Texas, the boy discovers an unexpected talent and even wins the sympathy of Jessica (Samantha Dakin) - until his hand puppet Tyrone develops a devilish life of his own. What initially manifests itself in merciless honesty and crude sayings soon plunges Jason into extreme emotional chaos - with bloody consequences.
Although "Hand to God" can certainly be called a grotesque, this unusual coming-of-age story never sinks into extreme exaggeration. The characters seem real and especially Jason's feelings as well as his problems are absolutely comprehensible. The same goes for his mother, who desperately tries to hide her anger and grief behind a normality that eventually collapses in an extreme situation. It's a bit of a feat that all of this is embedded in a great deal of sometimes literally biting humor. But as much fun as the play is, the story also makes you think a little once the laughter has died down.
That this comedy, which is truly not for the faint-hearted, works as well as it does is due not only to the excellent writing and direction by Derek Anderson, but also to the great acting by the five human actors and the two puppets. Nicholas Hart in particular, who has played the role of Jason in London's West End, manages perfectly to breathe life into Tyrone, so that you quickly forget that this is just a hand puppet. Hart switches perfectly between the whiny, soft sound of Jason to the harsh, croaky voice of Tyrone, and also delivers a really great performance during the physical altercations between the boy and his hand puppet. Respect.
The "New Yorker" described the play as a cross between "Sesame Street" and "The Exorcist," which is wonderfully reflected in the set design. In particular, the room in which the puppet show is supposed to bring the young people closer to the Bible transforms in the course of the play from a cheerful, colorful place full of Christian messages into a dark, demonic place filled with many small, abysmally evil details. Once again, the team at English Theatre Frankfurt has done a great job here.
Who likes it evil, cynical, a bit bloody and abysmal, this horror comedy can only be warmly recommended. The German premiere of "Hand to God" is playing until April 29. You should not miss it - you`ll have a bloody good time!
<link https: www.frankfurt-tipp.de veranstaltungen s event hand-to-god.html _blank>More info can be found HERE
