A CASE FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD – Written by Samuel D. Hunter; Directed by Warren Sherrill. Produced by Curious Theatre Company (1080 Acoma, Denver ) through February 16. Tickets available at 303-623-0524 or boxoffice@curioustheatre.org.
A long long time ago in a small college in Denver, a skinny kid jumped up and down on a table during a production of THE FOREIGNER and won the hearts of everyone in the audience. He is was my first Ellard – I guess you always remember your first. This actor has gone on from his college days to work at Creede Rep, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, BETC, the Art Museum, and other theatres. And now back to Curious for another appearance. Without glancing at the program before the show started, I witnessed an accomplished actor embodying the challenging role of Ryan in this production. Hidden under a beard and a full-grown big guy physique, there was my Ellard – Brian Kusic. His ability to throw away a comic line totally deadpan, to absorb the pain of his character in a most visceral way, to express humility, anger, desperation, and hope with such excruciating reality . . . I don’t have the words. You broke my heart, Brian.
Paired with Brian in this adventure on stage is Cameron Davis, newer perhaps to Colorado, but perfectly holding his own in the part of Keith. This is one of those pairings that is so perfect, that you can’t imagine anyone else ever doing the roles with such synchronicity. Cam too brought surprises to the stage, holding onto his little bombs of discovery about past connections with dubious ease. His love for his daughter is heartbreaking and perfect. How do you display such fear and confusion without having something from your personal life to draw on? Cam, whatever it was that gave you that depth of feeling and pain, I’m sorry. But thank you for being able to share it with your audiences. It can’t be easy.
How do you make a story out of two men so opposite in character simply trying to negotiate the pitfalls of borrowing money? Ryan wants to buy the last parcel of land left from his family’s homestead, which has been sold off to developers over the years. He wants to make a home where his part-time daughter will want to come in the future after the divorce is final. But he has not lived the kind of life conducive to financial negotiations. Some people peak in high school as a football hero but everything else is downhill from there. Keith is anxious to make the deal as part of his job but also has a bit of a personal ax to grind. He is sympathetic to Ryan’s feelings about family because of his own struggle to get through the two-year foster-to-adoption deadline coming up when he can legally become his daughter’s father. Only weeks to go. The potential for a happy ending for both men hovers in the air above them.
Warren Sherrill has gained a reputation as an honored director in Denver; productions such as this are the reason why. The set design by Brian Watson that created a tiny office space that crowded the two men together added to the men’s early uneasy conversations. As a friendship developed, the space opened up to offer comfort. The open ceiling unit that stretched out over the audience only added to the cramped corner environment in which the men maneuvered. Through the work of Costume Designer, Connor Sullivan, the buttoned-down look of Keith’s business attire and the slouching attitude of Ryan’s jeans and work shirt provided a strong visual contrast to both men’s place in life. Time passing was ably portrayed with the lighting changes between scenes and the small adjustments in the set. Everything about this production served to provide a microcosm of activity not world-shattering to anyone except the two men living it. And the audiences watching it. Did we gain a greater sense of compassion by watching the trials of these two? I hope so.
Stay for the final credits . . . they have one more surprise for you.
A WOW factor of 9!!