Review: A CASE FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD at Mosaic Theater

A Case for the Existence of God at Mosaic Theater is a touching, quietly powerful story of an unlikely friendship and a mighty bond between two fathers striving to secure the futures of their baby daughters despite the many challenges life presents.

Written by MacArthur “genius” fellow and award-winning screenwriter Samuel D. Hunter and directed by Danilo Gambini, A Case for the Existence of God is vulnerable, funny, and intense. It builds like a wave on the horizon that slowly and steadily gathers power as it nears, landing with massive energy and impact.

Lee Osorio as Ryan and Jaysen Wright as Keith are perfectly cast in this spare two-hander. The two men at first seem to have little in common – they crossed paths at daycare. Keith, a mortgage broker, offers to help a fellow dad Ryan, who works shifts in the local yogurt plant, to secure a loan on land held by Ryan’s family generations ago.

In the tight, claustrophobic finance office in Idaho, the duo seeks to unravel the complexities of the mortgage loan and they bond over the joys and challenges of parenting their toddlers.

Ryan and Keith differ in many ways; each faces significant hurdles in securing their bond and their future with their child. It is a story of resilience and vulnerability. In this unlikely friendship the two move through joy, pain, heartbreak and hope.

The 100-minute production requires some trust and patience. The stories of Ryan and Keith evolve slowly. The pace is challenging and much of the exposition is delivered with the two actors seated – it is rare that anyone stands or moves. Know that what we learn is important. There is a payoff in raw emotion and vulnerability.

The Mosaic production is such a success because of the steadiness, talent and openness of actors Lee Osorio and Jaysen Wright. Osario as Ryan seeks to break a generational cycle of mental illness, self-medication and addiction. His limited education stymies his job options and his lack of parenting examples to draw upon leave him unsure about his own skills with his daughter. Osario bares Ryan’s huge and complicated heart. Whereas Keith (Jaysen Wright), a polished lawyer’s son who traveled extensively with his family and sprinkles his fancy English-degree vocabulary words into conversation, must confront an adoption system that is stacked against a single gay man parenting a child.

"I think we share a specific kind of sadness," Ryan says to Keith. And in Wright’s and Osario’s capable hands we see the characters’ vulnerabilities, heartbreaks and the precariousness of loving and guiding a child. The two build a bond as they navigate the challenges of trying to provide the best for their daughters.

The creative team builds a specific and unified staging. Nadir Bey’s scenic design draws from Piet Mondrian primary colors and sharp angles, yet it deviates at striking moments.  Danielle Preston’s costume design builds on these primary colors with blues, reds and creams that unify the story yet illustrates the class and occupational differences in Ryan’s and Keith’s lives. Colin K. Bills’ lighting design, Sarah O’Halloran’s sound design and Pauline Lamb’s properties define Keith’s and Ryan’s worlds.

Artistic Director Reginald L. Douglas says A Case for the Existence of God is “a beautiful celebration of empathy and a shining example of Mosaic’s mission. [It] highlights the issues of class and race with complexity, elevates the voice of one of the most acclaimed playwrights of our generation and the importance of amplifying queer voices, and affirms the power and joy of connecting across differences.”

Playwright Samuel D. Hunter says, “A little over six years ago, my husband and I bought an apartment and adopted a child, pretty much right on top of one another. And it was staggering to me how difficult both of those processes were – these very normal, middle-class goals, to own property and have a family. I think it said something about our current moment, how difficult it is for so many Americans to lead middle-class lives. So, I wanted to write a play that actively wrestled with that."

We are left with the premise in the title: A Case for the Existence of God. Keith and Ryan stake their futures on their children. They believe that for all the ache, challenge and tenderness they invest there is a payoff – one of hope, love and profound connection.

Mosaic Theater’s A Case for the Existence of God is beautiful, powerful, raw and shouldn’t be missed.

Running Time: 100 minutes with no intermission.