In the suburbs of Ohio, God became judgmental.  Shaun remembers fondly how Mrs Wean, leading the choir, encouraged his shy self because of his deafness by insisting that he sing a solo part.  Abigail tells us about her Jewish heritage and how she feels the most Jewish valued purpose we could now fulfil is to work for the liberation of Palestine.

There is graphic detail on the stereocilia in the circular ear canal standing up like trees, but getting damaged as if the trees have been cut down and are dying.  After they have died, the result is tinnitus, that persistent ringing in the ears that so many suffer from.  Shaun tells us how he falls away from the church after realising how shockingly rigid the views of the congregation are and that now he is an atheist. 

Towards the end of the show, Shaun asks Abigail if she can hear a long list of quiet sounds, “The soft moan? The gentle chuckle? The thrush, the linnet, the bumblebee? The gentle part of an overture?” to others that are louder, “The low rumble of thunder? and to each Abigail replies “No” until he asks, “The voice of god” and she answers, “Yes”. 

The singing in this show feels rhythmic at times even hypnotic.  I hope by reading this review you will know what to expect.  I met a man in Edinburgh who had gone to see it on the strength of the five star reviews for the show’s originality. He was disappointed because as a man suffering from tinnitus himself he didn’t appreciate the content of the show being about something he experienced and there being no set or costumes.  So it is to do with expectations.     

Go and see Ohio for the feelings about the human existence and what our understanding is.