This play, which provides spectacular opportunities for acting fireworks, nevertheless relies on tired and dated theatric mechanics. A father-deprived Bible-belt son goes "psycho" and takes revenge on the mother who is portrayed as responsible for the kid's emotional failures. And when I say psycho, read that "Psycho." Isn't the Blame-the-Mom trope recognized as sexist and barely Freudian in 2016. Worse, "Hand" punishes the mother for her sexual appetites (involving, yes, an inappropriate under-age stud-muffin and a creepy church leader). The scene in which the judgment against the mother by the son--using a hammer--is horrific, but sick. We are led to believe she somehow deserves this punishment because of of her religious fervor and her libidinal freedom. Feminist alert; this play's wide acclaim represents the theater elite's prioritization of histrionics over progress.
3
This one of the worst plays I have seen. Certainly no humor. If you like a play about a schizophrenic boy and his hand puppet then this for you. I went to seei it on the strength of the ny times review. He loved it. Impossible. It's one of those nights in the theatre where you want your two hours back. Utterly depressing and completely pointless. Please trust me on this. Could be the worst play in the history of American theatre..
5
I have been championing this play since I saw it. Some of these reviews really are missing the point and going for the surface aspects of raw humor and adolescent angst. The play is really about deciding how much you play a part in your own destiny, how much we rely on god to explain our own behavior, and really just simply how religion can be misconstrued as a crutch to explain the devil within us all :) Not only a great play, but absolutely hilarious - I mean to the point that I had tears coming down my face. Killer cast - and now that Bob Saget is in it, I'm thinking it will pick up in ticket sales. One of the reasons I like this show was because it was fresh, new and had no stars. But this production deserves to be seen. Saget is a good choice for the part, so it's not just casting for star sake. Go see it. You'll love it - if you're not easily offended :)
1
saw it last nite - even with discounted tix - not worth the price; nothing new, more like slapstick - or - as I told my companion - if this were a tv show we would have changed the channel
3
completely agree, not worth it even for free. Great actors/sets, but the play didn't seem to know what it wanted to be - slapstick comedy at first, then a sharp turn to dark/sinister in the last half hour. Throw in the usual cliches about religion and sex, and you have yet another lame play with a rave review from Times.
2
If you do not like your sensibilities shocked, do not go...As you can see by the other comments, this is not the sort of far for your typical out-of-town or staid I-remember-mama crowd.
If you go, be prepared to take your preconceived notions about theatre and, well, you know--stick them where the sun does not shine.
When you are there if you can stay in the moment you're in for a treat. Dark, funny, completely over the top.
As for the rest, let's just say this play is like the joke about Cleveland--first prize all expense paid trip for one night in Cleveland. Second prize, two nights all expenses paid in Cleveland.
You will only need to see this one once...
If you go, be prepared to take your preconceived notions about theatre and, well, you know--stick them where the sun does not shine.
When you are there if you can stay in the moment you're in for a treat. Dark, funny, completely over the top.
As for the rest, let's just say this play is like the joke about Cleveland--first prize all expense paid trip for one night in Cleveland. Second prize, two nights all expenses paid in Cleveland.
You will only need to see this one once...
I grew up going to a Lutheran church in the Midwest. The church basement set brought me right back to those days. The magic of theater.
2
Saw it last night and walked out at the intermission, along with a slew of others. We didn't find anything funny. We're accustomed to the irreverence and the copious use of profanity (I've been going to Broadway regularly since I was a teenager, sixty years ago) but just didn't see the purpose of it all. Maybe we missed the pathos of this poor, possessed adolescent, but "Tea and Sympathy", "Equus", "Billy Elliot" and a large number of other plays through the years did a much better job while holding our interest.
5
Actors were strong, talented and funny. However, the play stepped way over irreverence in a totally unnecessary way. The ending way way out of line and destroyed any redeeming qualities the play had. I think the play would have been better served ending 5 minutes earlier, without the angry, witless monologue they chose to add to wrap the play up with. For that reason I will not recommend this play.
2
Enjoyed every second. Thanks for an exhilarating evening.
3
Saw this last night and hated it as well. I was hoping for a dark, witty comedy, but was completely disappointed.
More disturbing than funny and felt more like sitting too close to the speakers at a heavy metal concert. The attempt at humor was sophomoric at best.
By far the highlight was not paying full price. My headache has not subsided and its 9:15am the next morning.
More disturbing than funny and felt more like sitting too close to the speakers at a heavy metal concert. The attempt at humor was sophomoric at best.
By far the highlight was not paying full price. My headache has not subsided and its 9:15am the next morning.
5
I saw Hand to God last week. I hated it. I wish I had left at intermission as the person next to me did. Other than the sex scene in Act 2, it was not in the slightest bit funny and the basic theme -- a tormented teen communicating through an out-of-control puppet -- is not enough to sustain the entire play. Yes, the puppetry skills were masterful but the script is poor and the acting mediocre.
With the exception of Sarah Stiles, the acting was sub-par. Early in Act 1, Geneva Carr was stifling a laugh while the Pastor Greg was trying to seduce her. Was this part of the script or a live-theater break up? It was hard to tell.
A waste of both my time and my money.
With the exception of Sarah Stiles, the acting was sub-par. Early in Act 1, Geneva Carr was stifling a laugh while the Pastor Greg was trying to seduce her. Was this part of the script or a live-theater break up? It was hard to tell.
A waste of both my time and my money.
3
I concur.
3
I saw the play on Tuesday, July 7, 2015, and thought it was more sad than funny. Between this play and the movie, "Inside Out", we are learning to honor and express our sad feelings, so that we don't need to act them out with anger, fear or disgust. It is a strong play with a strong message as well. Congratulations to the author, and all the actors, director, and Set and Lighting Designers.
2
Game bunch of actors, but it has nothing novel or interesting to say amidst all the histrionics.
2
While the alter ego puppet thing is cliché, this was a whole new dark and sinister take on the theme. On many levels, this play is about release from repression, and a little gratuitous gore is always a great tool in live theater.
1
Just when you thought you'd seen the "meek boy/alter-ego foul mouthed puppet" thing, the show goes round the bend and gets very dark...during the last 15 or so mins of the show, you could almost hear butts biting the seats.
I hope the lead, Steven Boyer, nabs the Tony.
I hope the lead, Steven Boyer, nabs the Tony.
6
"...you could almost hear butts biting the seats." That's pretty good! My Dad and I saw this last month and I still can't stop thinking about it. Even though Boyer didn't win the Tony, I agree with you and Isherwood (who later went against all the other critics in saying that Boyer was even better than Alex Sharp in "Curious Incident...") that he deserved it. I was more amazed that my Dad, in his late 70s, enjoyed it so much. We both (and this is rare) thought it was one of the best things we'd ever seen. I'm really puzzled at the amount of negative comments. Something like this has to 'ignite' and that energy is different at every performance. Anyone who was in the audience Thursday, July 16 at the Booth, I'm sure came away from "Hand To God" quaking with delirious bouts of post-play hysterics.
3
The pitch and tenor of this play is like being at a heavy metal concert, brash, unrelenting and smash mouth.
For the most part it works, due to the amazing ensemble of actors, who I can't imagine how they perform at this level 8 or 9 times a week. Mr. Isherwood's review is pretty spot on. He gives you some plot points but nothing can describe what you feel as you watch this.
His most apt comments come at the end of the review: what we really want are the psychological underpinnings of what make jason/Tyrone tick. Yes he is the embodiment of how we must repress parts of ourselves to function in the world, but he's also raving mad, ala the guy who shot up the movie theater and whose demons are unleashed on the innocent public.
For those looking for subtlety this is not the show for them. The 2nd act goes a bit over the top, where the play starts bleeding into monster movie territory.
It would've been intolerable without the gallows humor, which mixed with rage to give a portrait of a truly disturbed alter ego.
Mr. Boyer is astounding, essentially playing 2 characters at once, and giving each color and modulation that might be difficult in one role.
Ms. Carr where have you been? I want to see more of this amazing actress. She bleeds frustration and sadness and desperation. Her soul is poured out on the walls of the stage.
This play is shocking, in it's intensity and execution. You'll need a drink when its over! Kudos to the cast!!!!
For the most part it works, due to the amazing ensemble of actors, who I can't imagine how they perform at this level 8 or 9 times a week. Mr. Isherwood's review is pretty spot on. He gives you some plot points but nothing can describe what you feel as you watch this.
His most apt comments come at the end of the review: what we really want are the psychological underpinnings of what make jason/Tyrone tick. Yes he is the embodiment of how we must repress parts of ourselves to function in the world, but he's also raving mad, ala the guy who shot up the movie theater and whose demons are unleashed on the innocent public.
For those looking for subtlety this is not the show for them. The 2nd act goes a bit over the top, where the play starts bleeding into monster movie territory.
It would've been intolerable without the gallows humor, which mixed with rage to give a portrait of a truly disturbed alter ego.
Mr. Boyer is astounding, essentially playing 2 characters at once, and giving each color and modulation that might be difficult in one role.
Ms. Carr where have you been? I want to see more of this amazing actress. She bleeds frustration and sadness and desperation. Her soul is poured out on the walls of the stage.
This play is shocking, in it's intensity and execution. You'll need a drink when its over! Kudos to the cast!!!!
5
The only mistake my sister and I made was watching it with my mother considering some of the racier scenes. Other than that, it was hilarious and Steven Boyer was amazing. Uproarious and disturbing.
4
Wild. Funny. Raucous. Scary. Brilliant.
This is Tennessee Williams/Eugene O'Neill for the 21st century.
Saw this Wednesday, April 15, 2015 at the matinee, and it was not the show I expected. Nor do I feel that it is a show that can be explained. (I would say the review describes the show, but not the experience.)
Not for the faint of heart or sensitive viewer, the first act of this peppered-with-humor tragedy deals with humor of inane dysfunction, and the second act unravels the chaos, tragedy, and forgiveness that may or may not ensue. The cast is quite good, and Mr. Boyer excels in his puppetry skills in addition to his dual role of Jason and Tyrone.
I would forewarn of the mature, occasionally extreme, content, but then recommend for any mature theater-goer looking for fresh, vibrant, different theater.
This is Tennessee Williams/Eugene O'Neill for the 21st century.
Saw this Wednesday, April 15, 2015 at the matinee, and it was not the show I expected. Nor do I feel that it is a show that can be explained. (I would say the review describes the show, but not the experience.)
Not for the faint of heart or sensitive viewer, the first act of this peppered-with-humor tragedy deals with humor of inane dysfunction, and the second act unravels the chaos, tragedy, and forgiveness that may or may not ensue. The cast is quite good, and Mr. Boyer excels in his puppetry skills in addition to his dual role of Jason and Tyrone.
I would forewarn of the mature, occasionally extreme, content, but then recommend for any mature theater-goer looking for fresh, vibrant, different theater.
4
Dreadful, sophomoric, undisciplined, lazy writing that should not be anywhere near Broadway. There are sitcoms on TV that are far better crafted than this cheap, thin, unruly play. Boyer's performance is impressive but the play is not nearly as funny as Isherwood seems to think it is. Awful.
12
I absolutely agree. I found the writing extremely sophomoric and am depressed that this kind of writing is being presented on B- Way. I can appreciate the intention and idea of the story, but the redundant, unearned (playwriting 101) vulgarity just becomes a wash ultimately and all the characters pretty much speak the same. The opener NG and closing Tyrone monologues were so heavy- handedly long that, although I agree with the message, I was tired of being finger wagged. Yeah. Finger wagged. Tiresome stuff. Come on Isherwood- are you a 20/30 something simple sucker for cheap sexist jokes at heart? And oh- puppet sex has been done.
7
Clearly, you think YOU know better than the Tony Award nomination panel. Sadly, they know better than you. This play is getting RAVES from audiences.
5
Judy & Kakie: Sorry you two didn't "get it," and resort to assuming your cluelessness is somehow the play's fault. It's okay if it's not your cup o' tea, but blaming everyone else for not seeing the emperor's lack of clothes doesn't necessarily mean your opinion is correct.
3
Saw it tonight - one of the most hilarious and truly brilliant and original plays I've seen in a long time. Robert Boyer is phenomenal as Jason/Tyrone, and contrary to another commenter's disappointment about Isherwood giving away so much of the plot, there's truly no way, in my view, to "spoil" it evn with a plot summary. You must see this amazing piece of theater. My only disappointment was literally the last few lines - a bit of an epilogue that I felt was unnecessary. But considering the manic pace of the play and the demands it makes on the cast (especially Boyer, who must be having a wonderful time in his dual roles), this is a minor quibble. I suppose it was difficult to figure out how to end it.
8
I saw this play a few weeks ago at a Wednesday matinee. I had a sensational seat, 11th row orchestra, dead center (purchased at a discount price, which made it even better). But I was so disappointed. I was expecting a hilariously funny dark comedy and found it to be more of a drama. I also found the low budget staging better suited to an Off Broadway theater (I was aware going in that it was originally staged Off Broadway, but was hoping for more extravagance). At the most I had a couple of chuckles. The funniest scene was the "wild puppet sex" scene, but I was hardly in tears from laughter. The actors are all excellent, but I found the concept to be familiar. Although I can't specifically recall where I've previously seen a hand puppet violently turn against the person holding the puppet, I'm fairly positive I've seen this idea done before (perhaps decades ago). In any case, while I'm a big fan of dark comedies and sick humor, I vastly preferred the mainstream lighthearted musical comedy of "Something Rotten."
7
The same concept was in the William Goldman book and later film (starring Anthony Hopkins and Ann-Margret) titled "Magic," and involved that other often-feared proxy, the ventriloquist dummy.
2
and, before "Magic," the fabulous scene with Michael Redgrave and his puppet in "Dead Of Night."
and I think you just outed yourself with the comment about "more extravagance". That would have ruined what should be an initmate experience to begin with! Broadway can't just be BIG - even from the standpoint of epic plays like Miller or O'Neil. This stuff needs a large forum. The great thing is that you can either analyze its larger message, or simply sit back and laugh at an X rated puppet. Either way, thre's something for everyone with an open mind who's willing to lean in, as opposed to waiting to be hit while sitting back.
1
Charles Isherwood says, ". . .scaring away (really) a couple of audience members. . ." Perhaps they weren't "scared away" but, rather, left because of the foul language. In which guess, I share in their disgust as to what's happening on Broadway lately.
8
was it really necessary to slag Book of Mormon in this review?
1
Saw this at the Ensemble when it first opened and thought it was terrific....more challenging than Avenue Q...it's not a satire with puppets....it's both hysterical and thought-provoking. Steven Boyer's performance is tremendous and I am so glad that he is getting the recognition he deserves.
But if you fear puppets....this show will just enhance your fears. Tyrone is not to be messed with.
But if you fear puppets....this show will just enhance your fears. Tyrone is not to be messed with.
3
We saw it in a preview last week and haven't stopped talking about it, telling friends to see it. Hilarious, and beneath the hilarity, real commentary on the human condition.
7
My husband and I saw it from the mezzanine in previews and loved every second. My sides were splitting, but the play is thought-provoking as well as hilarious. Terrific performances all around, but Steven Boyer is a genius.
6
Much like Avenue Q, puppet wise, I will keep my distance. Few things in life I fear, save for puppets and clowns.
I'm really disappointed that Mr. Isherwood could not rave about this show without giving away major plot points. I have encouraged my friends to see it, but read nothing about it in advance, because being surprised and shocked by this play is the best way to enjoy it. I do hope that this review spurs interest in my favorite play of the season, but damn, why you gotta spoil everything?
4
There's a lot more to this play than what is revealed in this review. The plot points are NOT the play, the experience of being there and seeing it is the play.
4
Thanks for explaining to me that reading a review is different from seeing a play! I had no idea!
Back to my point: This review could have revealed less and raved just as much, and the play deserves it.
Back to my point: This review could have revealed less and raved just as much, and the play deserves it.
4
I saw the play on Saturday, and Mr. Isherwood's review is spot on. We happened to be in the front row so we were very up close, and it is truely an amazing performance by Steven Boyer. By the way the set is absolutely perfect, we had a half hour to kill in the front row, so we really looked closely at all the details, kudos to the set designer. This is well worth seeing.
8
Nina and I saw the original production at Ensemble Studio Theatre in 2011 (It came out of their Youngblood program) and we were simply blown away by it. That it was taken to Broadway came at no surprise to us or anyone else who had seen it. Steven Boyer is jaw-droppingly, of-the-charts brilliant, just wait to you get to the "Who's on First" scene and you'll agree. And if you thought Geneva Carr was hysterical in those Bacon and Eggs commercials with Kevin Bacon, just wait until you see her here. A true journeywoman NY actor, she is just perfect as Margery and it's great to see her finally get the recognition she so truly deserved. We also got to meet Tyrone afterwards and he was very gracious and kind, very down home...just a regular sock, but onstage, he's a force to be reckoned with.
Go see this play you will love it!
Go see this play you will love it!
12
How is Nina, btw?
2
Saw it off Broadway and could not stop laughing. GO.
6