by Alan Jozwiak
“…Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends” is a refrain from a Beatles song that most closely parallels the action within Know Theatre’s latest production, A Case for the Existence of God. This play by Samuel D. Hunter (the playwright behind A Bright New Boise and The Whale) explores the highs and lows of being a father in small town America, where the men are forced to make ends meet through working dead-end jobs. It explores the unlikely friendship between Ryan (Rupert Spraul), a divorced worker at a local yogurt factory who wants to buy land to build a house for his daughter, and his mortgage broker Keith (Montez Jenkins).
Strong Casting and Direction
While two-handed plays can sometimes lead to unbalanced shows, with one actor dominating the other, director Piper Davis skillfully chose two strong actors with complimentary talents to play the parts of Keith and Ryan. This pairing works well, generating a good rhythm and pace in the show so that this 90-minute play does not drag. Davis also allows her actors to lean into their strengths, making them comfortable enough to dive deep into the painful emotional territory that this play discusses.
Performances in A Case for the Existence of God
Both actors are standouts in their respective roles. Montez Jenkins Copeland plays the gay Early Music/English major-turned-mortgage broker Keith with grace and finesse. I have seen Jenkins perform in other productions over the years, but their performance in this play is a standout. Jenkins swings from emotional highs to devastating lows, so that by the end of the play, the audience can’t help but empathize with them over their personal losses. I think my favorite scene with Jenkins is at the beginning of the play when they are speaking “mortgage-speak.” Jenkins’ super quick delivery of the finance lingo is so effortless that it allows the humor of the situation to shine through.
I have been a fan of Rupert Spraul’s acting since his days as a CCM Acting student. He always tackles challenging roles and dives into them with great relish. The same is true for his performance as Ryan. Ryan spans the complete spectrum of emotions and Spraul hits every emotional beat with a total honesty and complete commitment. In Spraul’s drunk scene he has perfect control over his body to convey becoming completely blotto. Another scene later in the play, he explodes at Jenkins out of frustration at the injustices of his world. In both scenes, Spraul effortlessly conveys these emotions and situations in a believable manner.
Another favorite moment between these two actors is the playground scene where they reveal heart-wrenching things about their lives, all the while periodically stopping their confessions to chastise and scold their children to behave, share, and play nice. For both actors, it is a tour de force performance guided by the expert direction of Davis.
Themes in A Case for the Existence of God
It is very rare for me to say what I am about to say, but I find this production beautiful–in every sense of the word: beautifully written, beautifully directed, and beautifully acted. There are admittedly tragic and heart wrenching moments in this play. But the help and support each man provides to the other and that makes those moments beautiful in their own right.
It is also very rare to see a play where men of different socio-economic classes and different sexual orientations develop a long-term friendship. As an audience, we witness the full flowering of this relationship during the last scene of the play. I cannot give too many details other than to say that it brings their relationship around full circle.
While I praise this production, I had to ponder over the title of the play. Initially, the title puzzled me. God or his existence is never mentioned anywhere in this play. On the surface, it looks pretty secular in tone. In thinking about the title, I recall the line from Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables pertinent to this situation. Hugo writes that “to love another person is to see the face of God.” As these two men seek common ground, their friendship echoes that divine love that Hugo discusses in his quote. They become a test case for the existence of that love within the greater world.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I heartily recommend A Case for the Existence of God. It shows off the best of what Know Theatre can do and will undoubtedly be a sell-out.
Tickets
A Case for the Existence of God runs February 7 to 22, 2025. Click here for tickets.
A trigger warning for this production: There are frank worst-case scenario discussions of divorce, foster parentings, and adoption can be heart-wrenching and might not be suitable for those facing similar situations.
