I got to see Hand to God the other day at Dobama Theater. I enjoyed it and all of it's dark humor, but it wasn't what I was expecting. It was advertised as a cross between Avenue Q and the Book of Mormon, two shows that I really love. This show had puppets and a religious theme, but that's where the similarities ended.
Premise: a widowed woman works for the church and is trying to put on a puppet show. Her son, Jason has a puppet (Tyrone) that has a very dark streak, eventually leading the group to believe that he is possessed by the devil.
Tons of dark religious psychology in this show. Eventually, Tyrone is revealed to be a manifestation of Jason's pain for his father's death. Also, lots of violence and a gratuitous puppet sex scene. This show is definitely for the 21 and over crowd. It's not a musical, so you don't go home with a song in your heart. Tyrone's last speech actually reminds me of Puck's at the end of A Midsummer Night's Dream. The effect is eerie and fascinating. :If you like creepy plays, watch this. If dolls and puppets scare you, or if the religious overtones hit close to home, I'd advise you to avoid it. It's not every day you see a guy bludgeon his own hand with a hammer.
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