Winner of the 2022 New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Play and named one of the best plays of 2022 by The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Vulture, and Time Out New York; A Case For The Existence Of God by Samuel D. Hunter (The Whale) is set to open at Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre this April.
Premiering on Wednesday 17 April, this exquisite new work from the esteemed playwright shines a poignant light on parenthood and financial insecurity, featuring an ensemble cast including Darcy Kent and Kevin Hofbauer in leading roles. Returning to Red Stitch to direct the two-hander is award-winning Melbourne based Director, Gary Abrahams (Yentl, Arts Centre Melbourne; Admissions – Melbourne Theatre Company).
The play follows two fathers, seated in a small office cubicle, who unexpectedly allow one another into their fragile worlds. Ryan is a straight, white, recently divorced plant worker seeking to buy back a lot of land that once belonged to his family. Keith is the black, gay single caretaker of a foster daughter, and a mortgage broker.
At this desk in the middle of America, loan talk opens a discussion about the chokehold of financial insecurity and a bond over the precariousness of parenthood.
Hunter, originally from Idaho and now New York-based, presents his newest theatrical work, which follows the success of his break-through Obie-winning production A Bright New Boise (2010) and The Whale (2012). He continues to garner significant recognition with the cinematic adaptation of The Whale, which not only secured him a BAFTA Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay in 2023 but also clinched two Oscars, including Best Actor for Brendan Fraser.
A Case For The Existence Of God sees Hunter blend two disparate experiences of marginality with humour, empathy and gut-wrenching honesty, promising audiences a night of life affirming theatre. The season runs April 17 – May 12 and tickets are on sale via www.redstitch.net/
