"Hercules on Normandie" ultimately has to be classified as a politically charged magical play with music. Conceived for a 21st Century audience, its concerns are entirely immediate.

A trio of activists is on the run from the police after smoke-bombing a military recruiting office. They are : Miguel Alfaro, an embittered veteran of the current war in Iraq; Osasami, a privileged rich girl with a crush on him; and James Rice, a gay hip-hop artist from Kentucky. Diving into a church during a Good Friday service, they are concealed by a sympathetic priest, Father Francis.

The service, disrupted by investigating police, is further disrupted when a muscular Black man materializes and descends from the cross. This is Charles "Hercules" Johnson, a death row inmate whose execution date is imminent. He has been able to teleport to the church through metaphysical means. Hercules has a heavenly helper, a raggedy (if that can be imagined) angel named Angelo.

Angelo's manipulations of events will be countered somewhat by the appearance of another celestial being, the mysterious Sirianna, who directs events in other directions.

The mighty Hercules has been transformed into a missionary of love. The privatized, corporatized prison has not made an abject slave of him, and he has labors to perform before his end is due. He will miraculously bring sight to his blind mother and attempt to soothe the anger and despair of his son, Miguel Alfaro.

Hercules had better hurry. Miguel plans to immolate himself while protesting the war. James will be beset by homophobes who seek his harm. Osasami hopes that Miguel can find some love in his heart and return her unrequited passion.