Saving Cain

This play does a beautiful job setting up the many struggles involved with loving someone no matter what, and the acceptance that requires. It grabs you with its beautiful writing, and the wonderful performances elevate the play to excellence. I cried throughout the second act. ... full review

It’s easy to judge people you disagree with from a digital disconnect; it’s more difficult when you inhabit the same space. Saving Cain pits an Evangelical mother, Laurelai (Leah Verrill, equal parts infuriating and hilarious and nakedly human), against her teenage son, Levi (Lenny Hernandez, as good as he always is, defiant and doofy and tragic) amidst the tumultuous political landscape of the mid-2000s to the rocky, opioid-driven present. Strong performances ground the production. I was refreshed to see Laurelai, a character I fundamentally disagreed with politically, portrayed in a wholly human performance. She lived a different life than mine; how could I know what she’s been through? Who are we, but the sum of what we’ve been subjected ... full review

thought-provoking, nuanced, moving piece on religion, addiction, family, and trauma... full review

A powerful piece that examines what our beliefs can give us... and what it can cost us if we hold on too tight. Aaron Kozak is a regular Fringe writer for a reason, and this is one of his most moving and challenging scripts yet. The cast he assembled is up to the task, most especially Leah Verrill and Lenny Hernandez, who shine particularly bright as the mother and son at the center of the play.... full review

This show takes seeming caricatures of religious nuts and grounds them into real, complex characters who are reactions to their upbringing. The actors are solid, and the message is an unexpected, moving surprise.... full review

Such a fantastic piece and so so well acted. It feels relevant and dated at once, yet somehow all existing and reacting in the same space. ... full review

This show was well written and the acting was superb!... full review

Wow! From the writing to the acting, Saving Cain is a powerhouse of talent. Aaron Kozak's exploration of the subject matter is both deep and extremely pointed. Even as it branches out he manages to keep it succinct and timely. He tells a dramatic story with such levity and familiarity that it goes down smoothly while still being impactful. With Leah Verrill and Lenny Hernandez the emotion is so close to the surface it's palpable. They're able to convey complicated character development with ease. Saving Cain is definitely a can't miss!... full review

Excellent acting, moving story, a loving and empathetic look on how trauma shaping can shape one generation of a family and swing back the other way for the next. ... full review

I didn't really know what to expect but was pleasantly surprised. The story took a pleasant turn and kept me wondering what's next? Definitely a Fringe must see!... full review