|
Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train
By Stephen Adly Guirgis
Directed by Michael Menendian
At Raven Theatre
6157 N. Clark Street
Chicago, IL
Call 773-338-2177, www.raventheatre.com
Thursdays thru Saturdays at 8 pm
Sundays at 3 pm
Running time is 2 hours, 15 minutes with intermission
Through December 6, 2008
Raw and intense road to redemption unfolds at Raven Theatre
Stephen Adly Guirgis (“The Last Days of Judas Iscariot” and “Our Lady if 121st Street”) had a most conflicted youth growing up Catholic in Harlem. His plays contain spiritual and religious themes reflected in raw and crude street language by his low life characters. In “Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train,” now open at Raven Theatre, Guirgis tells Angel Cruz’s (Esteban Andres Cruz) story. He is a young Latino man jailed for shooting a Korean religious cult leader in his ass. The reverend later dies from complications from surgery to remove the bullet. Also in Rikers jail is Lucius Jenkins (Bradford Stevens), an African-American born-again serial killer who raises the question: “Is faith enough to save those who have not practiced what they believe?”
Mary Jane Hanrahan (JoAnn Montemurro) is Cruz’s public defender who sympathizes with her naïve client. She weaves an unethical defense for her client as she becomes haunted by the state’s too strong charges against Cruz.
The prison guard D’Amico (Greg Caldwell) becomes sympathetic to the psycho killer Lucis believing that since he has found God, he is now redeemed. When D’Amico is fired from Rikers, the brutal by-the-rules guard Valdez (terrific work by Warren Levon) treats Lucius like the killer he truly is. Much of the play involved both Lucius and Angel in their rooftop exercise pen wherein they exchange their rants, raves and diatribes about their crimes and punishments, their religious beliefs and their views on race and justice. Taking responsibility for their crimes necessitates a shift for each from their initial stance.
This powerful and gritty urban drama contains raw street language and bittersweet dark humor as each character struggles to make sense of their situations. Bradford Stevens and Esteban Andres Cruz capture the frustration and emotional rage felt by two men unable to take moral responsibility for their actions. They change drastically as each comes to terms with their actions. There is a sensual beauty, even nobility, to Angel Cruz. Playwright Guirgis deftly depicts Cruz’s background that has him mix religious values with street morality. This strong work will get you talking on your way home. It will move you as it strikes directly in your heart.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: October 12, 2008
Jeff Recommended
|
