This wild comedy is unlike anything to hit the stage in Kelowna

The Mad Fox Theatre is ready to put on something Kelowna hasn’t seen before with their latest production, Hand To God at the Centre Culturel Francophone de l’Okanagan.

The show, which also features puppetry, first premiered Off-Broadway in 2014 and opened on Broadway in 2015.

Hand To God is a dark comedy that’s set in a Sunday school in Cypress, Texas. The kids are part of a puppet ministry that teaches them about the bible and to avoid Satan. But for one kid Jason, his puppet Tyrone takes on a life of its own.

Director Pete MacLeod told Kelowna10 the company aims to put on shows that look to challenge their audiences.

“There’s lots of great theatre in Kelowna already, but we want to push the boundaries and push the limits a little bit,” he explained. “Our hope is that folks will come and see a show, and they leave surprised, but also fulfilled at what we’ve offered them.”

MacLeod added there are a lot of overarching themes and take aways; its crude comedic tone is one that he feels hasn’t been done yet in the local theatre scene.

“I think it’s the wildest comedy Kelowna has seen,” he proclaimed. “At the core of it, is a story about family, and love, and grief. It’s wild, but it’s also heartfelt at times.”

The story specifically focuses on Jason, a shy, socially awkward, 16-year-old who takes on the puppet Tyrone, that ultimately becomes possessed.

Corey Hendricks, who plays the lead role, has the challenging task of managing two opposite characters and personalities at once.

“[Tyrone] is this crazy puppet that’s very brash, outspoken, and different than what Jason is. I think it’s a bit of a representation of what [Jason] is like inside, and what he wants to say,” he explained. “You have to split your brain in half a little bit. The one character is doing something on one side and then trying to feel and react to the other things as Jason.”

Tickets for the remaining shows can be purchased online.