Man of God
Reviewed by Julia Stier
East West Players
Through February 24
RECOMMENDED
East West Players presents the world-premiere of Anna Moench’s acerbic comedy, Man of God. Directed by Jesca Prudencio, this timely show explores the reactions of four girls, each trying to make sense of an act of violation against them, committed by a man they trusted.
Four Korean-American girls — Kyung-Hwa (Katherine Ko), Samantha (SunHee Seo), Jen (Michele Selene Ang), and Mimi (Sandy Nguyen) — are traveling with their church on a mission to Thailand when they discover that someone has secretly placed a camera in their bathroom. To make matters worse, a label on the camera marks it as church property. This leads them to conclude that their pastor (Roy Vongtama), who is their sole chaperone, is the one behind this disgusting act.
The characters’ unique experiences and perceptions of the world cause them to react to the situation in different ways. As the rebellious, confrontational Mimi, Nguyen is a ball of fire. Seo plays an adorable but woefully naïve Samantha. Ko elicits a gasp from the audience as she reveals the dark secret she’s been harboring, and Ang remains a pragmatic presence as the levelheaded Jen.
As the Pastor, Vongtama is sweet on the surface, yet his surprisingly quick temper reveals a much darker side. His betrayal quickly makes him the focus of the girls’ revenge fantasies.
These flights of imagination prove the most captivating part of the production after three of the girls conjure delicious reveries of how they would deliver justice. These scenes, which range from sword fights to disembowelment, are thrilling, and serve up sweet satisfaction.
The four actresses form a strong ensemble. Noteworthy technical elements include the epic swordfight, choreographed by Seo. Lighting designer Rebecca Bonebrake utilizes a creative combination of neon lights to distinguish the girls’ fantasies from their reality.
The show manages to be horrifying yet hilarious as it exposes the extent of the power play that goes on behind abuse. Relevant and well-executed, this production of Man of God manages to make the audience both laugh and squirm.
David Henry Hwang Theatre at the Union Center of the Arts, 120 Judge John Aiso St., Downtown LA—Little Tokyo; Thurs.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 8 p.m. & 2 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.; through Feb. 24. Eastwestplayers.org. Running time: 80 minutes with no intermission.
