A boy sits solemnly with his head in his hands watching television. We wonder why he is there. The stage lights turn on, the boy leaves, and a sheriff comes out to tell the story.
The boy, Tommy Spencer, is the center of the heart-wrenching “Eye of God,” Lamar Theatre’s latest production. When we next see Tommy, he is covered in blood, in shock and dead silent. Two police officers take him into custody as we slowly learn what has happened.
Written by Tim Blake Nelson, “Eye of God” follows a nonlinear narrative which keeps the audience guessing. Every scene feels like a puzzle piece the audience needs to assemble. By intermission, we think we know what has happened. Unbeknownst to us is the extent of just how tragic the fates of everyone involved will be.
Nelson’s script intercuts between the story of Ainsley and Jack, and the story of Tommy and his aunt, Dorothy.
Ainsley, played by Alexia White, is a young woman simply trying to start a family. As the play begins, she is waiting to meet ex-con Jack Stillings, played by Bailey Jenkins, whom she met through a magazine correspondence ad. Jack doesn’t tell Ainsley what he was in prison for, claiming that he has found God and his past is irrelevant.
Jack gets out of prison and after meeting with his parole officer, he moves in with and marries Ainsley, pushing God into their lives as he prays for children while restricting Ainsley’s freedom.
Tommy, played by Cameron Durso, is a troubled 14-year old dealing with the loss of his mother and living with his overworked aunt.
Through Nelson’s precise pen, we learn that Ainsley has been gruesomely murdered while Tommy was made to watch.
What makes “Eye of God” work is its nonlinear approach. If we viewed the story through a traditional narrative structure, its emotional beats wouldn’t hit as hard.
There are two distinct moments — one where we catch a vignette of the sheriff interrogating Ainsley’s killer while we see Ainsley speak, and one towards the end where we catch a glimpse of the past, present, and future of the tragedy befalling Ainsley at once — which highlight the spark the nonlinear structures breathes into the staging.
The cast are all phenomenal and all pump blood to the heart of the story. Durso disappears into the role of Tommy, his stilted first walk on stage showcasing tragedy without a word.
Joseph Lyle Taylor as the sheriff, and Jay Sullivan as the parole officer are guest professional actors and their talent shows. Ellie Henning gives a brave performance as Dorothy who is trying her best to connect with Tommy.
Caitlin Parker’s subtle direction makes each cast member shine as brightly as her meticulously crafted lighting. Parker ensures a wide breath of vistas across a relatively small set while the lights create an atmosphere as dark as the story.
It’s hard to leave “Eye of God” without a dry eye. Once the curtain closes, the thought of what happened lingers and ruminates like it’s watching you.
“Eye of God” continues Sept. 17-19 at 7:30 p.m. and Sept. 20 at 2 p.m. in the Studio Theatre. Tickets are $7 for students and alumni, $10 for LU faculty, staff, and senior citizens, and $15 general admission. For tickets, visit lutd.ludus.com.