Salt Lake Acting Company’s “Hand to God,” their most recent production, offers up plenty of dark laughs along with an in-depth look into themes of family, guilt and faith. SLAC’s adaptation of Robert Askins’ five-time Tony nominated play will be sure to shock even the most adventurous of audiences, for all the right reasons.
The production begins with a kind of prologue/monologue delivered by Tyronne, a maniacal hand puppet expertly controlled by actor Riley O’Toole. This monologue traces back to the beginning of man and the subsequent formation of community and establishment of religion which inevitably follows. This opening scene does an excellent job of setting the tone of the play, one that is often profane, dark and thought-provoking.