Review by Erin Ryan.
In His Hands, a 90-minute no intermission play, showcases two gay men and their very different experiences with two denominations of the Christian church: Lutheran and Baptist. The intimate space at the Den Theatre perfectly encapsulates the intimacy between the two main characters, Daniel and Christian. The play by Benjamin Benne is directed by Micah Figueroa.
A beautiful representation of a slow burning relationship. Two individuals start off as coworkers, find themselves as friends, share physical and emotional intimacies without the pressure of sex, and eventually share new sexual experiences. They discuss every topic under the sun, some being the most challenging topics to discuss with a new partner such as God, grace, the afterlife, love—abstract ideas that stem from their relationships with Christianity. They start on opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to these ideals and slowly find themselves understanding one another and finding common ground, all while unpacking their relationships with the church and their upbringing.
Director Figueroa creates this story with a simple set, with simple costumes, and the use of object work instead of props. This strips down the show to focus on the more complex relationship between the two main characters and God. The actor who plays Daniel, Yuchi Chiu, wears a plain white and cream costume with bare feet while his counterpart Christian, played by Alex Benito Rodriguez, wears a plain all-gray costume with bare feet. These costume choices reflect how they feel in the eyes of God, Daniel, pure and loved, and Alex, shameful and sinful. (Costume design by Isaac Pineda.) The bare feet represent the bareness of humanity you see in the book of Genesis in the Bible, which the show winks to in the very first scene. The other two characters in the show have much more detailed costumes and wear shoes—these are figments of Christian’s imagination and trauma so it’s important to differentiate them visually from Daniel and Christian.
The set design by Jonathan Berg-Einhorn also takes an uncomplicated approach. One block is moved around by the actors and used as various set indicators, i.e. an office, a living room, and a bedroom. Although the set is quite straightforward, the performers interact with the architecture in a very physical and unique way. They run around, climb and hang from the set, and use one another’s bodies to share weight and perform tricks that are stylized to mirror the emotionally intimate conversations they have with one another. As the show progresses, we see the actors become closer physically. Chiu and Rodriguez share a beautiful trust for the other as performers.
Chiu brings a wonderful and real sense of humor to his character of Daniel. He seems like a friend that you know. His comedic timing is spot on, bringing a wonderful sense of joy to a heavy story. Rodriguez balances out this humor very well by bringing a raw and heartbreaking performance to his role of Christian. I found myself wanting to know more about his character and feeling the pain of his character as he so graciously revealed more information to the audience. The way these two actors are able to balance each other in their portrayals makes for a very dynamic production.
In His Hands is funny, dark, heartbreaking, hopeful, sweet, and everything in between. This show specifically surrounds the experience of two gay men but says so much more about society and religion and love. With interestingly written dialogue, gorgeous direction, and well-done performances by the actors, this show will leave you feeling many things, and hopefully open up some trickier conversations.
Other creative team members are Emily Brooks, assistant director and choreographer; Courtney Abbott and Kirsten Baity, violence and intimacy co-directors.
First Floor Theater’s Chicago premiere of In His Hands runs through August 24. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 3pm in the second floor Crosby space at the Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. Tickets are $5 - $35; to purchase tickets visit www.thedentheatre.com. Running time is 90 minutes. This show is for audiences 16+ as there are many mature and sensitive topics covered.
Erin Ryan is a Chicago-based writer and comedian. Ryan graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in theater and is excited to meld the two worlds that excite her most: theater and writing. In her free time, you can find Ryan traveling, hiking, hanging out with friends, or asking a stranger if she can pet their dog.
For more information on this and other plays, see theatreinchicago.com.
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