Dezart Performs’ latest offering is Samuel D. Hunter’s “A Case For The Existence Of God,” exquisitely directed by Michael Shaw. It is a thoughtful and moving play about fate, friendship, love and well, basically life itself.
Set mostly in a small, cramped office in a mortgage brokerage company located in Twin Falls, Idaho (claustrophobically realized in Jimmy Cuomo’s scenic design), the play follows the beginnings and the ups and downs of an unlikely friendship between Keith (Dennis Renard), a well-educated, gay, black man and Ryan (Jacob Alden Roa), a poor, straight, white, high school grad who is in the midst of a divorce and child custody battle. Having met Keith at a child day-care center, Ryan comes to Keith’s office hoping to get a loan to purchase some land on which his family once lived. Despite a rough start due to Ryan’s complete lack of finances and understanding of how the mortgage industry works, a spark of a bond emerges when Keith reveals that he is a foster dad in a fight to adopt the child just as Ryan is battling to maintain his parental rights over his daughter. The rest of the play is their negotiating their way through fatherhood, adoption, family ties or lack thereof, friendship and the difficulties and joys that life presents. Their relationship is one of polyphony, which Keith, a music major in college, describes to Ryan as “different melodies being played at the same time that compliment each other harmonically.” A better description of their friendship (or of the play, for that matter) would be hard to find.
Jacob Alden Roa and Dennis Renard are mesmerizing in their respective roles. Both actors give flawless performances as their characters maneuver through life’s minefield. Throughout the play they continually show their deep love for the child in their life. It is this love that ultimately forms the basis of their friendship and keeps each of them going as they fight their personal battles. For, as Ryan states, he has faith that things will work out. Despite some sad events (which actually brought tears to my eyes), hope still exists because that faith was never lost.
“A CASE FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD” is playing at Dezart Performs’ downtown home at the Palm Springs Woman’s Club now through March 10, 2024. For rickets or further information visit their website at www.Dezartperforms.org