An Off-Broadway review: “The Saviors” By Bubba Weiler at Atlantic Theater Company
By Antonio
As I entered the Atlantic Theater Company, I was first struck by the fact that this old church, which has undergone many alterations to become a theater, was once again made whole. (Set Design by David Zinn) I was reminded of my own suburban Midwestern Catholic Church that I grew up attending. Everything is in order and pristine. The peace and serenity it emanated lulled me into a sense of calm. I could hear the Mass filling the space. Prayers, sermons, and hymns brought me back to the rituals of my childhood. (Sound Design by Leah Gelpe) This space was bathed in a soft light that suggested you were in the presence of God, and here is where you could connect to your faith, your community, and feel the warmth of God’s love. (Lighting Design by Stacey Derosier)
Then the play began, and the chaos of the world entered this holy space. The Mass was over, and we were introduced to two Altar boys, Michael and Paul, who are in charge of preparing the space for the next Mass. Loud, playful, and filled with a youthful energy that vibrated through the space. These two children are preparing for their confirmation, one of the seven sacraments, which is an initiation meant to strengthen their faith. Part of this sacrament is to be sealed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. Needless to say, this is a lot for a thirteen-year-old to accept, but Michael seems excited to choose a saint who will be a role model and a heavenly guide in life.
When Michael suggests he should pick Paul and Paul should pick Michael, tension fills the room, and I feel Paul is not on board with such a commitment to Michael or God. Then an unhoused person enters the church, hoping to pray and unburden themselves. He tells the boys that he used to go to this church and attend the same school as them. Paul is immediately moved to help this person, whereas Michael feels this person is a threat and should go elsewhere for support. This man, Julian, creates a distance within Michael and Paul’s friendship, which evolves into a crisis of faith. His presence makes these two young men reflect on their path and their purpose.
I came into this play with high expectations as I had seen “Well, I Let You Go” earlier this year, and I was not disappointed. Bubba Weiler’s writing and Jack Serio’s direction are organic and seamless. Bubba writes in a beautiful code where spoken words illuminate everything the character cannot say. He finds tender moments when contrasting adult wisdom with teenage truth. JUDY: “But still it’s…it’s tricky. We don’t want to make people feel guilty.” MICHAEL: “But we do, kind of…” Jack’s direction never lets us feel safe for long. Every time the door to the church opens, and we hear the whistling winter wind, we are reminded of the cold, cruel world outside this sanctuary. He trusts the given circumstances and the characters, allowing the scenes to build slowly and deliberately. He orchestrates compelling scenes between the two teenagers, and even when these scenes lead to violence or trauma, he makes it all seem inevitable and necessary.
The casting (The Telsey Company) of Ivan Howe as Michael and Julius Rinzel as Paul was inspired; they fulfilled Jack’s vision and found so much life and passion underneath Bubba’s beautiful words. Their performances showed a depth of understanding beyond their physical ages. Ivan creates a relentlessness in Michael, which combined with absolute faith, drives this story. Ivan embraces Michael’s tendency to see only what he chooses, burying anything that does not support his vision of life. Julius’s Paul is the adult in this relationship, carrying the weight of knowledge that could destroy Michael. Julius expertly handles Paul’s responsibility to his friend and his desire to explore the world outside this church.
Stanley Simmons created Julian as someone existing in a black hole of emotional need. His physicality conveyed longing and regret. He knew exactly what to say to elicit empathy and curiosity from Paul. Stanley’s understanding of addiction gave Julian a vibration that could be felt as he walked down the aisle through the theater. Rounding out this play was the amazing Crystal Finn as Judy, a widow who wants to give back to her community by starting a Youth Group at the church. Crystal’s Judy provided comfort and humor while also holding the shame of past secrets that would force all the other characters and herself to face the truth. Crystal has the gift of making Judy look hopeful in one moment and world-weary in the next. I felt immediately that underneath her words, she was atoning for her past mistakes, seeking salvation from her sins, and was willing to pay any price for redemption.
This play continually challenges Michael to be good and do the right thing so that he can realize his vision of his friendship and future. If he is able to save Paul from his growing distance from God, he can save himself from all the things he can’t say and all the fears that fill his dreams. He learns through experience how the world is filled with lies and deception and uses his knowledge to remove the obstacles that prevent Paul from coming back to God & himself. He believes that Paul was brought into his life by God and that their destiny is being guided by God’s hand. At the end, overcome with anxiety and fear, Michael is finally able to move beyond his fears and tell the truth to Paul. Perhaps our truth is what makes us good and allows us to feel God’s presence in our lives.
