Jesus Hopped the
A Train
Signature Theatre
The Pershing Square Signature Center
October 14, 2017
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| Photo courtesy of Signature Theatre |
“People
think everything is replaceable. Everything
is not replaceable. People believe they
go through life accumulating things.
That is incorrect. People go through
life discarding things, tangible and intangible, replaceable and priceless,”
says Corrections Officer Valdez (played by Ricardo Chavira) in Act I of Jesus Hopped the A Train. Playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis’ brilliantly relates
that statement to the value we put on not only human life, but our own
existence. This Signature Theatre
production is spellbinding from the moment it begins, and intensely accelerates
to a dramatic conclusion.
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| Edi Gathegi & Ricardo Chavira Photo courtesy of Signature Theatre |
When
Angel Cruz (played by Sean Carvajal) is arrested for shooting a preacher in the
ass, Mary Jane Hanrahan (played by Stephanie DiMaggio) is appointed his legal
aid attorney. He is verbally abusive to
her at their first meeting. When he
openly admits doing the shooting, she explains it is in his best interest that
she not represent him and that he not confess to his next appointed
lawyer. She is personally moved by the
righteousness of his confession, and returns to visit him for the details of
his story. She decides to take his case
when he reveals that the preacher he shot is a cult leader who brainwashed and
stole his best friend. When the preacher
dies due to complications during surgery, Angel is charged with murder. It is when Angel befriends serial killer
Lucius Jenkins (played by Edi Gathegi) at Rikers that he begins to question his
actions and sense of right and wrong.
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| Sean Carvajal Photo courtesy of Signature Theatre |
Before the play started there was an
announcement that Sean Carvajal stepped into the role of Angel Cruz earlier in
the week and will carry a script in his hand for a few scenes. Script or no script, he is truly
remarkable. He is fully present in every
moment. He emotionally engages the
audience with the plight of his character, pulling them into the dramatic action
of the play. The most powerful scene is
between him and Stephanie DiMaggio during Act I. They go head to head, both passionately
seeking truth to believe in. Ms. DiMaggio is riveting. She grabs your attention even before her
scenes begin when she walks into place in the dark with a sever determination
that skillfully drives the scene the minute the lights come up. Edi Gathegi smoothly
charms his way into your
heart, as every serial murderer should, blurring the line between good and
evil, then clearly defining it as he entraps Angel Cruz in Act II.
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| Stephanie DiMaggio Photo courtesy of Signature Theatre |
Each
actor portrays the many layers of their characters with clarity and
honestly. They create moments that
explode with urgency. Mr. Guirgis’
dialogue is zealous and masterfully woven.
You MUST see this play. Jesus Hopped the A Train is playing at
The Pershing Square Signature Center through November 12. Don’t miss it!
Domenick Danza
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