He projects a grooviness turned dry and brittle, making each. Angel's desperate desire for assurance and forgiveness make him, in a weird way, immediately lovable. Angel Cruz is a young Puerto Rican man incarcerated for shooting a cult leader after said person "stole" his best friend. it in the round allows the guard Valdez (a smug and pitiable character played very How Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train closes October 15, 2017 Details and tickets -[/ezcol_1third] It's startling to watch Luciusa so-called man of Godinfluence Angel in a way akin to Rev. So where is God where is good in the criminal justice system? LINK: His replacement, Valdez (Ricardo Chavira), is not likely to show anyone a kindness. Gender: Male. Brayden Fagbemis putback rescues No. That Lucius (Edi Gathegi) is generally sunny and witty despite having killed eight people plays with our loyalties. An LA Theater Works production of Stephen Adly Guirgis's play about Angel Cruz, a Puerto Rican who is in jail after a prank turned badly: He shoots Reverend Kim in the, uh, posterior, after Kim, a rich hypocrite preacher, brainwashed his best friend. Relying heavily on the attorney's direct address monologues, the entire subject seems to be one Guirgis feels the need to include, but never finds a way to integrate. Angel holds out that he was justified and his lawyer's sure that a hearts-and-minds appeal will get him off at trial. [20], Last edited on 30 December 2022, at 16:19, "Hoffman Directs Original Cast of Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train for June 22 Reading", "Review: Its Law vs. Order in Jesus Hopped the A Train", "Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train Extends at Signature Theatre", "Signatures Jesus Hopped the A Train Delayed Two Days Following Departure of Reg E. Cathey", "Australian Stage Online - Jesus Hopped the A Train", "THEATER REVIEW - Locked Up In a Place Far Beyond Redemption", "The Great Work Continues: The 25 Best American Plays Since 'Angels in America', "Jesus Hopped the A Train, Donmar Warehouse, London", "Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train review faith and horror on Rikers Island", "Review: Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train brings a poetic and profane playwright to Soulpepper", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jesus_Hopped_the_%27A%27_Train&oldid=1130526120, This page was last edited on 30 December 2022, at 16:19. God Is The Giver, And Sustainer Of Life Verse, Their monologues are all interesting, at least, but Guirgis was mainly interested in having Angel and Lucius debate. Lucius. Opened Oct. 23, 2017. . clean in its execution, and one which gives the illusion (conversely) of space, father stabbed someone at a dance when she was younger, but, In Rikers, Angel meets Lucius Research Playwrights, Librettists, Composers and Lyricists. In 2017 Jesus Hopped the A Train seems to ask whether justice, and even God, is possible in an unjust society. All monologues are property and copyright of their owners. Its an aesthetic which is extremely Playing Lucius Jenkins, a fellow inmate convicted of murdering eight people, Riggins delivers the kind of bravura performance that makes you lean in closer to not miss a single syllable. JESUS HOPPED THE 'A' TRAIN . Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train plays through April 21st at the SF Playhouse, 533 Sutter St, San Francisco. At the opening of the play, he is in his second night of incarceration, awaiting trial for shooting the leader of that cult in the "ass." He is on his knees, alone and terrified, trying to say a prayer he no . The Vagina Monologues; Eve Ensler; 3 pages. Lucius Jenkins - (40s/50s/Black) He is a charismatic, confident convicted serial killer but he has a strong Christian faith since being incarcerated. In other scenes, she performs monologues. Collective Consciousness Theatre, the black box theater in Erector Square with a penchant for urban dramas and works by authors of color, is back with its first production of the season: Stephen Adly Guirgis' sobering Jesus Hopped the A Train.First produced in 2000, the play sets up a situation where crime and punishment . Angel Cruz and Lucius Jenkins face murder charges. The kind that seems so raw and dangerous, you almost feel like a creep for listening in but then anxiously wait for his return whenever he leaves the stage. Four glass Perhaps the most stirring monologue of the play comes from . Elysium Theatre deserve much credit for bringing Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train to Manchester for the first time. Join StageAgent today and unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. Yet, the five characters, their fraught interactions and the impact they have on each others lives sustain interest. Jesus Hopped the A Train characters breakdowns including full descriptions with standard casting requirements and expert analysis. Furthermore, staging Kim's described affect on Joey, the friend Angel fought so hard to free from a cultish existence built by a false prophet. But after DAmico is canned for slipping Lucius contraband cookies, hes left without an audience. We meet two guards. [7] It was nominated for the Olivier Award, Best New Play for 2003.[8]. Still . Guide written by. There are a finite number of Shakespeare monologues, so the most accessible roles for actors in their 20's tend to be overdone. Pulitzer Prize-winner Stephen Adly Guirgis darkly comic meditation on redemption and faith, Angel Cruz is a 30-year-old bicycle messenger awaiting trial for the death of the leader of a religious cult. Whereas other productions have enclosed the action in Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train does not offer a clear verdict, even while it implicitly criticises the judicial and penal systems of America. Equity actors for roles in JESUS HOPPED THE A TRAIN by Stephen Adly Guirgis. Angel Cruz, a poor Puerto Rican, isn't sure why he's in jail after shooting Reverend Kim, the born-again Christian who brainwashed his best friend. Lucius is also a serial killer, a self-described paranoid schizophrenic who employs his charms on . Yet, by the end of the play, the opening scenes dark hilarity appears more to have been a groping first effort toward a sincere rediscovery of faith perhaps Guirgis deepest theme. Soulpepper Theatre presents Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train, a graphic and distressing story of two prison inmates serving time for murder. Where: Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave. Tickets: $30 at 773-935-6875 or www.eclipsetheatre.com. Written by Stephen Adly Guirgis Jesus Hopped the A Train tells the story of several inmates of Rikers Prison who are awaiting charges for murder. In the Signature Theater revival of Stephen Adly Guirgis' "Jesus Hopped the A Train . A moment where things come into complete focus is a late monologue by a prison guard whose soft spot for Lucius cost him his job: with perfectly calibrated delivery, Gregory Prest delivers a . Stephen Adly Guirgis got his break in 2000 with "Jesus Hopped the . As long as these interviews maintain the plays furiously Socratic tone, they enhance the idea that making good choices in an evil world is nearly beyond the human skill set. 4. Given those two scenes, you might assume this will be just another legal procedural about a hoodlum caught up in the prison-industrial complex. Part investigation of our broken criminal justice system, part examination of the corruptive influence of Judeo-Christian morality, "Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train" is a promising It's a tight, well-paced and thoughtful staging . Stuart. What about my victimization? Was it my free will to turn ta drugs and alcohol as a result a that sh*t? The play was produced in London at the Donmar Warehouse in 2002. . White, polished and put-together, Mary Jane dug herself out of a childhood filled with violence and poverty while Lucius succumbed to mental illness and hard drugs. Whilst Angel Cruz (Ukweli Roach) is locked up in prison for a murder accusation after he . doors slide back and forth to create the different places, most notably the separated A long traverse stage, no more than two Kim's described affect on Joey, the friend Angel fought so hard to free from a cultish existence built by a false prophet. Review | Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train | Young Vic | 5 Stars | Kate Hewitt's production of Stephen Adly Guirgis' 'Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train' is bold and. Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train. Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train is a brilliant, visceral examination of morality and justice, questioning the difference between true faith and self-serving religion. Some auditors urge actors to find classical monologues from writers other than Shakespeare. If you dont have access to a reader, please present a monologue in the style of the show. Postponed from April when an actor became ill with COVID-19, this pandemic-era production forges resonant metaphors after so many months of socially separated isolation. Photograph by Teresa Wood. A monologue from Jesus H. Kate Hewitts production and Magda Marmions Trevon Roots wins battle with Burlington Centrals Drew Scharnowski for sectional title. The cast of "Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train" by Eclipse Theatre. When the cult leader dies during surgery, Angel suddenly finds himself facing murder charges. Jesus_Hopped_A . If you're wondering what Philip Seymour . Jesus Hopped The A Trainquestions the legal and penal systems in the US and offers a stark reflection on how the law struggles to deal with the complexities of the human . These are the dichotomies that Stephen Adly Guirgis's Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train puts up against each other, whilst exploring the injustices and complexities of the American justice system. Are we really laughing with Angel or at him? But me? But in the next cell to Angel is an articulate serial killer called Lucius who has found God and who tries . very much confined are fully opened out. Lucius; CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College THE 100. the shock of the charismatic Lucius' descriptions of his own murders, and finally, the 'A' train itself. Elysium Theatre deserve much credit for bringing Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train to Manchester for the first time. Uploaded by Intermission is thrilled to be hosting the inaugural theatre reviews of the Emerging Arts Critics Programme 2019/20 season. Packed densely into a bullet-fast script, a barrage of . Submit at https://actors-express.com/get-involved/ . Lucius, despite Taylor's fearsome performance, remains a bit of a conundrum, as captured in a beguiling late-in-the-play monologue from D'Amico (Zach Bloomfield), a guard who loses his job for . . . Lucius Jenkins is on appeal, trying to avoid the death penalty for the murder of eight people. Lucius Jenkins, a.k.a. about justice and redemption, whats right and wrong, and the power of belief. Late in Jesus Hopped the "A" Train, . Still, they're full of rhetorical fireworks. Qty: Full Length, Drama 4 men, 1 woman Total Cast: 5, Flexible Set ISBN-13: 978--8222-1799-2. . Angel Cruz, played by Richard Nguyen Sloniker is a Puerto Rican awaiting trial for justifiable attempted murder. By Jesse Green. Lucius and Angel act as spiritual foils. Lucius has found God and been born again, and now, Angel's life and the course of his trial will be changed forever. Isaac. Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train Theatre Review. But the guy dies, and the Angel is in solitary . After that line, the play instantly becomes an obscenity oratorio in which vicious, muscular dialogue, appropriate to its setting, turns into gorgeous music. church/ cult leader in his water buffalo-sized ass in an attempt to rescue his A monologue from Jesus Hopped Jesus Hopped The A Train- Angel on Vimeo There is even something endearing about the crime that put him in prison: He shot a cult leader in the butt while trying to rescue a friend. . Angel Cruz and Lucius Jenkins face murder charges. As such, Equity encourages performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, and ages, as well as performers with disabilities, to submit. Jesus Hopped the A Train. Runs to February 23 at The Young Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto's Historic Distillery District in the Michael Young Theatre, 50 Tank House Lane. Re-read the monologue. David Zayas and Ron Cephas Jones in Jesus Hopped the A Train. for her but theres also a personal connection. Stephen Adly Guirgis' critical and hilarious examination o. She makes the switch so effectively between coaching and monologue scenes that at first I thought she was two different actors. Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train reveals a young playwright's awkwardness with its overwritten passages and reliance on expository monologues. Those arguments are eternal, as the frequent biblical references suggest. JESUS HOPPED THE A TRAIN - Equity video submissions Actor's Express Theatre Company | Atlanta, GA, Associate Artistic Director Amanda Washington. ( Joan Marcus) A prisoner struggles through the Lord's . 1 Benet in a sectional final. Their scenes together alternate with ones in which Angels lawyer, Mary Jane Hanrahan, must break through his perverse resistance in order to prepare him for court. Directed by Kevin Mack. When the cult leader dies during surgery, Angel suddenly finds himself facing murder charges. Please prepare one of the sides available at https://actors-express.com/get-involved/ . . Free will versus actions determined by the circumstances of our existence. jesus hopped the a train lucius monologuehow long does it take to digest raw broccoli. As his name implies, Angel wrestles with questions of faith, and those questions come pouring out from Lucius during their side-by-side exercise sessions in the prison's outdoor cages. -+ Ravi Ghosh . Father Flynn. 79 pages ; 20 cm "Angel Cruz, a poor Puerto Rican, isn't sure why he's in jail after shooting Reverend Kim, the born-again Christian who brainwashed his best friend. [4][5][6] The original cast included Salvatore Inzerillo, John Ortiz, and David Zayas, Ron Cephas Jones, and Elizabeth Canavan.[4]. who are written to mostly speak through direct-address. Lucius is awaiting extradition to Florida to take responsibility for the trail of bodies he left behind. More . The kind that opens up the scope of a script. Stephen Adly Guirgis's plays include Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train, Our Lady of 121st Street, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, The Little Flower of East Orange, and The Motherf*cker with the Hat. The burdens of the outside world are crushing, and in the little time these two share outdoors in their separate cages shows the strain. . The new guard Valdez (Jason Hall) is cruel and curt. What is clear is that the justice system leaves even the people on the other side of the cage scarred. other. The monologue from which the play takes its name was a low point in an otherwise thrillingly paced drama. Part Size: Lead. Jesus Hopped The 'A' Train is a play written by Stephen Adly Guirgis . Lucius Jenkins has found God, and Angel's life and the course of his trial will be changed forever. Short North Stages streaming production, which continues through June 27, is well-acted and tightly staged. Singhateh is compelling as evangelising killer Lucius, his performance cleverly toying with the audience's sympathies as he slips between charming bonhomie and cold-bloodedness. Angel Cruz is a young Puerto Rican man incarcerated for shooting a cult leader after said person stole his best friend. Reviewed . Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. He has a great, effective monologue at the end about the death of Lucius that is sublime. Capture a web page as it appears now for use as a trusted citation in the future. The kind that only happens when the right actor connects with the right role at the right time. These scenes are separated by blackouts and a . Some prisoners go out of their minds when confined to the 23-hour isolation wing of Rikers Island prison. Jesus Hopped the A Train Barbara and Scott Siegel New York City December 26, 2000 John Ortiz is Angel Cruz in Jesus Hopped The A Train (Photo: Jamie Mullians) Stephen Adly Guirgis, whose In Arabia,. . Set in Rikers Island, the notorious New York City jail, Guirgis' play traces the parallel fates of two inmates Lucius (D'Wayne Taylor), a serial killer known as "the Black Plague," and Angel (Johnathan Nieves), a young Puerto Rican. A monologue from the play Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train by Francesco Di MaioShot and Directed by Hitop Films. But the audience also hears stories of childhood friendships and complicated . . . . Although some of its pungent dialogue verges on debate and a few monologues seem too on the nose, Stephen Adly Guirgis off-Broadway drama ultimately transcends ideology to offer a poignant portrait of human fallibility and good intentions gone astray. Jesus Hopped first opened off-Broadway in November of 2000. Barrow Group. 0. Results may vary. The character, usually played by a white or Latino actor, is now African-American and has similar features shaved head, facial hair, even the booming voice to the convict hes guarding. Earley Dean capably conveys the redemptive Christian spirituality, manic energy and residue of mental problems of Lucius Jenkins, a serial killer on Death Row trying to make a positive impact before hes gone. Aside from that hilarious and heartbreaking first sentence, theres not much I can quote from Stephen Adly Guirgiss Jesus Hopped the A Train, which opened on Monday in a riveting revival by the Signature Theater. This leads you to expect Jerry Orbach, or a neat denouement that Mr. Guirgis is not about to provide. Describe the Night. Early on in the play, Valdez has a monologue-which may appear to be his only redeeming moment in the play. Its a complex and feral feat of acting, one that would feel at home at Long Wharf or Yale Rep or even at one of the best New York theaters. Good versus evil. Join StageAgent today and unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. But his drive and dish make it possible.