A CASE FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD at Stages Houston

Samuel D. Hunter’s (THE WHALE) latest play, A CASE FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD, pairs well with Stages’ intimate venue and Mitchell Greco’s competent direction. It’s a simple two-person play about two fathers in small town Idaho who meet while negotiating a mortgage. Almost the entire story takes place in a small financial services cubicle, and you might think that its scope seems limited given everything that defines this job. But somehow, the play explores hope, empathy, class, racism, and platonic intimacy between two men. It’s about friendship. One is black; one is white. One is gay, the other straight. One has a daughter and the other is having trouble adopting a daughter he is raising. Each man faces his own struggle, and they share and bond over both their lives. I can’t think of a more perfect parable for our times, one that affirms that we are more alike than different. And a piece that reassures us that we’ll all be OK with each other’s help. The title destabilizes you because it evokes an idea of religion, but A CAS FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD says more about the human being than the divine.

The only two actors in this STAGES production are Adam Gibbs and Bradley Atuba. They completely disappear into the roles of Ryan and Keith, and their performances are like a master class in perfectly becoming a fully realized character. This is solid work from both performers, with no false notes. Adam downplays his luck, a white man who is going through a divorce and hopes to buy land that belonged to his family. Bradley is a queer, black mortgage broker who struggles to become a single father to a baby abandoned by his drug-addict mother. I couldn’t tell you where any of the characters begin and end, or where the actors stop and begin. The two men play with heartbreaking naturalness and bring these two voices to life with finesse. It’s an intimate play that requires actors at the top of their game. These two men certainly are.

Mitchell Greco is truly known as a master of the music genre, having created memorable tracks such as LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, XANADU and FIVE COURSE LOVE. With this play, he shows that he can also do intimate drama. It gives fluidity to the production and sets a tempo to the lyrical discussions executed flawlessly. I would dare to say that this is some of his best work at STAGES. The way he blocks this play is impressive. It probably helps that he’s working with a wonderful script from a master like Samuel D. Hunter, who wrote THE WHALE. This author knows his craft and knows how to write people who feel authentic and fully realized. If you liked the film starring Brendan Fraiser, this quality is very close to it.

Technically, I’m not sure if Tania Barrenechea (scenic design) or Christina R. Giannelli (lighting design) are entirely responsible for the emotive neon squares that embrace the set, but it works so well. This looks like something that will make this piece visually intriguing and give it some pop. Robert Leslie Meek also brings sound design that works wonders. The actors create an intimacy, but the technical team paints around them and reinforces everything. The stunning tableau at the end of the show is breathtaking in its perfect design. Nice work here too.

I can’t rave enough about this one because everything works, making me believe in more than just this piece. I’m going to be cheesy and tell you that something about all of this gave me hope. I know that sounds cheesy, and it’s definitely not my brand as a theater lover or critic, but there you go. Sometimes you see something in a dark space that just speaks to you, and A CASE FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD is one of those works. The opening night audience I was with was very engaged. They were laughing and having appropriate reactions at every moment. It was a conversation with the actors and the spectators. Intimacy is one of the fundamental values of STAGES THEATRE. And they should point it out every time they want to proclaim proof of it. You can’t do that in a bigger space. No one else in town could pull this off. This is a great example of what this company does best.

A CASE FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD takes place at STAGES HOUSTON until June 30. STAGES has its own parking lot to use. There are drinks and refreshments on site and several restaurants within walking distance. The show is presented in one of their smaller auditoriums, and I would suggest sitting in the center rather than the sides, but obviously all angles are close to the action. I don’t know how they pulled it off, but the show is suitable for either Father’s Day or Pride in June.

Photography was provided by Melissa Taylor Photography