(TW: mentions of homophobia, religious trauma, murder, and forms of abuse)
Theatre is by far my favourite form of art, and Hymn only cemented this for me.
From the start, we were greeted by a full orchestra on stage, which left me with many questions. Is this play about music? Are they actors? Can they even play those instruments? Yes. Yes, indeed they can.
Music is always an important part of theatre, and Hymn took that idea to different levels. After being treated to a wonderful performance by said orchestra, we see two women carrying a cross on their shoulders, like Jesus on his last day. They place the cross down centre stage, and thus begins the most beautiful piece of writing I have ever had the pleasure of witnessing. The play deserves to be studied by highschool students as a long poem.
We begin to understand that the girls are in a relationship - but one is the daughter of a pastor, and the other is terrified of being murdered in a hate crime. The Father, disapproving highly of their relationship, speaks from the
sky, representing God. He disobeys the girls from seeing each other. We watch as his daughter battles with her faith- she doesn’t and cannot possibly understand how loving someone can be a sin- an abomination. It isn’t.
We cut to a club scene, accompanied with an orchestral version of “Cuff It” by Beyoncé, which sets the atmosphere perfectly. When the pastor’s daughter doesn’t want to kiss her lover, she’s met with an, “Oh, so you’re okay with fucking me in the church bathroom but not kissing me in the club?”
We understand that there’s so much grey space here. There are mentions of the countless hate crimes committed against lesbians and the queer community everyday, with news reports of bodies being found. We understand it’s “not that simple,” and it may never be. This, however, doesn’t make it any easier for the girls, who simply want to love and be loved.
When the pastor finds out his daughter is hanging around another girl, he tries to exercise her, which gives birth to one of the most heartbreaking scenes I have ever had to watch. His daughter is screaming for forgiveness for a crime she did not commit; loving someone is not a crime. We hear Him (the Pastor / God) drown her screams out with scripture. This mirrors everyday occurrences that are felt by queer pastor’s kids around the country. It’s a story we know all too well.
The girls talk about their body in the North at church, and their body in the South in the clubs, and how they attempt to connect the two, but ultimately wish they could kill one or the other. The Battle Between Faith and Oneself. A tale as old as the Catholic church.
“Will you preach of me as your daughter, or a lesbian that was murdered. Will you preach of me at all?” Profound stuff.
From song and dance to incredible dialogue and physical theatre, this play deserves to be analysed by a professional. A perfect play to end a perfect night. I wish these girls and all the orchestra players the most success in their futures, because they are all truly stars.
Comentarios