The Brilliant HAND TO GOD is transferring from Broadway but will it be as good with an all new British cast? I’m really excited that the Broadway hit HAND TO GOD will be transferring across the pond to the Vaudeville Theatre from 5 February 2016.
Ever since I gave it a 4 star review in New York I’ve been raving about it and it’s great news that Londoners will be able to see why.
It’s very rare to encounter a Broadway audience that’s so youthful and completely rocking with laughter in the way the HAND TO GOD crowd were.
Set in the Bible belt of today's America the show tells the story of how a shy teenager’s Christian sock puppet becomes processed by a foul mouthed, psychopathic demon resulting in outrageous sex acts and gory violence.
It that sounds familiar territory it is. We’ve had evil puppets spouting adult language before in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS and AVENUE Q and religion is currently satirised on both sides of the Atlantic with the hit show THE BOOK OF MORMON.
The genius of Robert Askin's hilarious play is that he takes these elements to unthinkable extremes whilst remaining true to a logical progression of events. It’s somehow so persuasive a journey that you can believe in the spiralling of mayhem right through to the blood dripping, shocking conclusion.
If you think you’re unshockable, think again there are gloriously outrageous moments and fantastic filthy jokes that will make you gasp before exploding with laughter. There’s even a set change that had the Broadway audience roaring.
The show also contains the longest, most explicit simulated sex scene I've ever seen. Even if it is sex between socks!
The only bad news is that producer Kevin McCollum isn’t bringing the Tony nominated New York Cast.
Steven Boyer as the geek with the devil in his right hand gave one of the funniest performances I’ve ever seen and was justly nominated for a Best Actor award.
He’s been with the show since its early development and not only is he a brilliant actor with immaculate comic timing but his puppetry is so masterful that you entirely believe that the tatty old sock on his hand is processed and becomes a malevolent entity in its own right. He even manages moments when the story feels so real it’s chilling.
I honestly can’t imagine anyone better in the role. Let’s hope they find a Brit who can match him. Perhaps West End performer, Simon Lipkin is up for the challenge after his years on AVENUE Q and hilarious puppetry work as a dog in the short lived X Factor musical I CAN’T SING. He's a big guy though so I doubt he could match Boyer's vulnerability.
Hand to God received five 2015 Tony Award nominations in all, including Best Play, Direction of a Play (Moritz von Stuelpnagel) Actor in a Leading Role in a Play (Steven Boyer), Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (Geneva Carr), and Actress in a Featured Role in a Play (Sarah Stiles).
Casting for the London production is yet to be announced.
Tickets for the London run will go on sale in October 2015.
The Burt Bacharach compilation show, WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT, is heading to the West End after its successful run, Off West End. It has a new name, CLOSE TO YOU and is about to move to the 