review by Jane Zussman
A Case for the Existence of God is a fascinating/unusual/profound script by Samuel D. Hunter that is a double tour-de-force performance by two outstanding actors, Anthony Cason and Ryan Patrick Welsh, directed by Jasmine Rivera, up close and personal at the intimate Williamston Theatre.
Two seemingly dissimilar men take the stage, a gray office set — with a toddler's artwork posted as the only color. It turns out each has a toddler daughter as the colorful, bright spot in his life. Ryan white and divorced, fighting for shared custody; Keith is a black, gay mortgage broker, fostering to adopt his daughter.
As Ryan struggles to understand/qualify for a mortgage, the contrasts and commonalities of these two come out in unexpected ways. As the blurb aptly says, "With humor, empathy, and deep compassion, playwright Samuel D. Hunter intertwines these two lives in a story about fatherhood, family, and friendship.”
The twists of this intertwining are masterfully embodied by these two — seemingly in spite of themselves — evolving into an inspiring level of overlapping souls… with an unexpected and satisfying ending.
And what about that title?
There is no specific discussion of religion in this script, yet it illustrates what I interpret as the manifestation of God in the vision of the Other as the Self, transcending the isolation of the human condition. Others may see this differently, but this challenging script and these two remarkable actors certainly do fulfill the program slogan, “Stories that grow conversation.”
A Case for the Existence of God continues through March 16. Tickets at: https://www.williamstontheatre.org/shows/2024-2025/case-existence-god
Note special events coming to Williamston Theatre
A staged reading of contemporary farce “For Closure” https://www.williamstontheatre.org/dark-nights-billtown
and stand-up comedy show https://www.williamstontheatre.org/special-events/comedy-billtown
A Case for the Existence of God is a fascinating/unusual/profound script by Samuel D. Hunter that is a double tour-de-force performance by two outstanding actors, Anthony Cason and Ryan Patrick Welsh, directed by Jasmine Rivera, up close and personal at the intimate Williamston Theatre.
Two seemingly dissimilar men take the stage, a gray office set — with a toddler's artwork posted as the only color. It turns out each has a toddler daughter as the colorful, bright spot in his life. Ryan white and divorced, fighting for shared custody; Keith is a black, gay mortgage broker, fostering to adopt his daughter.
As Ryan struggles to understand/qualify for a mortgage, the contrasts and commonalities of these two come out in unexpected ways. As the blurb aptly says, "With humor, empathy, and deep compassion, playwright Samuel D. Hunter intertwines these two lives in a story about fatherhood, family, and friendship.”
The twists of this intertwining are masterfully embodied by these two — seemingly in spite of themselves — evolving into an inspiring level of overlapping souls… with an unexpected and satisfying ending.
And what about that title?
There is no specific discussion of religion in this script, yet it illustrates what I interpret as the manifestation of God in the vision of the Other as the Self, transcending the isolation of the human condition. Others may see this differently, but this challenging script and these two remarkable actors certainly do fulfill the program slogan, “Stories that grow conversation.”
A Case for the Existence of God continues through March 16. Tickets at: https://www.williamstontheatre.org/shows/2024-2025/case-existence-god
Note special events coming to Williamston Theatre
A staged reading of contemporary farce “For Closure” https://www.williamstontheatre.org/dark-nights-billtown
and stand-up comedy show https://www.williamstontheatre.org/special-events/comedy-billtown
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