Alice Ripley brings The Pink Unicorn vividly to life

The Pink Unicorn is a one woman show, with Alice Ripley delivering a stunning performance as a young mother of a gender neutral child. Ripley plays Trisha Lee, a single mother in a conservative Texas town, where her child challenges the town’s norms.

The play, written by real Texan Elise Forier Edie, lays out the story of Trisha in a confessional manner. Her child, Jolene, decides she is genderqueer and then plans a Gay Straight Alliance at her high school. This being Texas, a number of roadblocks rise in their path. First the school bans the club, then the school district steps in to ban all clubs. Throughout this, Trisha is forced into an activist role, because it is her child that is being discriminated against.

Alice Ripley in The Pink Unicorn - Jazelle Artistry

The Pink Unicorn is the story not just of a mother defending her child, but also of the growth of Trisha. She confronts her past as her family weighs in on the changes happening. And she confronts her second family, as the controversy roils her church, where friends and acquaintances stake out different positions. The subtly of Ripley’s performance is perfect and measured. She brings the audience along on this roller coaster, prompting laughs, tears and introspection.

Directed by Amy Jones, The Pink Unicorn is played on a tiny stage at The Episcopal Actors’ Guild at a church. The location gives The Pink Unicorn the intimate feel of a share at a small group meeting. Ms. Jones and Ripley use this space to pull an immediacy into the proceedings. It is a wonderful experience. 

The Pink Unicorn

Playwright: Elise Forier Edie | Director: Amy Jones | Cast: 

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God Show Up, and He Has Notes

The theater has a varied relationship with God. He is a remote, but powerful motivator in some Shakespeare and a play like Joan of Arc. He is a presence off-stage, influencing the actions of men in plays across the ages. In God Shows Up, he is a direct character, appearing on the television show of a popular televangelist.

God makes an appearance on the non-denominational, but quite capitalistic, Dr. Thomas Issac Rehan show, live from St. Louis, in the ex-home field of the Rams to answer questions, participate in some give and take, and generally boost the ratings of the show. It is a unique event, one that Dr. Rehan takes full advantage of. As for God, his motivation is only slowly reveled. He has come back to correct some mistakes and characterizations in the holy books and set the record straight with regards to many things said in his name.

Lou Liberatore and Christopher Sutton in God Shows Up

Christopher Sutton plays the televangelist with the easy cadence and charm of a snake-oil salesmen. He handles an obnoxious role extremely well, bringing a genial confidence even when he is discovered to be lying. Lou Liberatore does a great job with the character of God. He is easy going, charming, and bemused by Thomas’ television act. After a bit expectation setting by his character, Mr. Liberatore settles in to the role of God excellently.

The final actress is LeeAnn Hutchison with a rather small part, but it grows in ways I don’t want to spoil.

Most of Gods Shows Up proceeds with humor and a breezy confidence. The play does mock religions’ capitalistic tendencies and the inconsistencies of doctrine, but goes out of its way to be positive about the adherents motivations and actions. It is clever, funny and intelligent without being condescending.

But the play steps into some questionable territory towards the end by drawing a direct connection between Satan and our crop of self-interested televangelists that is a bit over the top and unnecessary. However, that connection does make Christopher Sutton's final words a bit chilling.

Directed by Christopher Scott, God Shows Up moves along nicely. It is aiming for a nice off-Broadway shelf life and it would be well earned, albeit not with evangelical southerners.

God Shows Up

Playwright: Philip Filichia | Director: Christopher Scott | Cast: LeeAnn Hutchison, Lou Liberatore, Christopher Sutton | Website