By Jody Tuso-Key; Managing Editor

One thing that sets aside my reviews is the personal touch I add. I sometimes share something about myself and how a show affects me personally, or I credit my father for my love of theater. There’s one thing I don’t touch on. My personal beliefs. However, I feel like it’s time to make an exception because JESUS GOOPED THE A TRAIN is all about faith. Theaters have faith that I will promote and review their shows. My family has faith that I’ll be there to love and nurture them. My students have faith that I can teach them math and drama. I wise man I know once said, “If you’re putting your faith in man or the Church, you’re putting it in the wrong entity.” As a Catholic Christian, my philosophy is that I’m called to love, not judge. We’re out in this earth to learn, make it more beautiful, preserve and protect it’s creatures, and be an instrument of peace. Recently, I had the chance to look at Christian faith through a different lens thanks to Actor’s Express.

One thing I can assure you of is that this show is going to make you feel redeemingly uncomfortable. No matter what your faith is, it will cause you to look inside and explore what makes a good person. The overarching theme is this: is it better to have murdered in cold blood eight people, then found Christ, asked for forgiveness, ask to be redeemed and then go on to try to share your faith? Or is it better to have killed one person accidentally and not be sure if your faith?

These characters go back-and-forth throughout the entire production, often shouting at each other. Lucius appears to be insane, which he probably is criminally insane, but he still does believe that he has been saved one day out in the yard. He speaks of living in darkness until he saw the light. Angel attempts to pray but flounders in his disbelief.

Angel has a lawyer that believes in him and doesn’t give up on him. She risks her career for him.

Then there are two prison guards. The first is friends with Lucius and provides him with “Oreos” and is subsequently fired. He has heart and humanity. He sends Lucius off to his death as he comes to see Lucious executed in Tallahassee. The second prison guard reminds me of Gilbert in Les Mis. He feels like he’s justified in the things that he does to the prisoners and the cruel way he treats them. He gets up and Lucious’s face, yells at him, and tells him he’s not worthy, calls him all manner of names reviles him.

All if the performances in this production are incredible. This is one you don’t want to miss and you only have today and tomorrow left to see it, so get your tickets at https://actors-express.com/play-page-jesus-hopped-the-a-train/.