Ryan DeLuca stars as Johnny Hobson in Arizona Onstage's production of "The Bible Belt , , , and Other Accessories."

Photo illustration by Renee Fullerton / Photo by Bill Dell

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Johnny Roy Hobson is back. Thank the Lone Star for that. We first met Johnny last year in Arizona Onstage's production of "Talk of the Town." Paul Bonin-Rodriguez wrote a series of plays about Johnny's adventures; there are five in the cycle, and Arizona Onstage says it hopes to produce them all.

In "The Bible Belt . . . and Other Accessories,"Johnny continues his story about being a gay teenager working at a Dairy Queen in a small Texas town.

University of Arizona freshman Ryan DeLuca portrays Johnny with energy, innocence and a big, big heart.

And, oh, how we love this character.

The three-scene, one-act production takes us through a few of the crises in Johnny's life. Here's the thing about Johnny: He's resilient. He's joyful. He's deliciously eccentric and he embraces that eccentricity.

"The Bible Belt, " like "Talk of the Town," is a strong story, and DeLuca knows how to tell it. He cleanly draws his characters with a swish, a step or a voice change, and he clearly loves them all.

Johnny tells about his experiences in Home Ec — he's the only boy in the class, and he sews so well that he wins a state competition by designing a new shirt for the Dairy Queen.

He explains: ". . . A fully piped, French-vented, red-and-white gingham, short-sleeved country and Western shirt, with already rolled-up sleeves for that Clint Black look. And for the crowning glory, the D-Q letters appliqued to a full front chest panel!"

Ya gotta love the kid.

Johnny cares for his mom, has run-ins with a bunch of Baptist out to convert him, and defends himself against painful homophobic slurs. Johnny's a busy kid for a teen in a small Texas town.

Kevin Johnson directed this fast-moving one-man production with an eye toward rhythm and story. Johnson, who also grew up gay in a small Texas town, has a feel for this character that's so vivid he infuses the play with a great sense of honesty and reverence.

"Bible Belt . . . and Other Accessories" gives us further insight into the giant struggles of Johnny Hobson.

We can't wait to see what he's up to next.

"The Bible Belt . . . and Other Accessories"

• By: Paul Bonin-Rodriguez.

• Presented by: Arizona Onstage Productions.

• Director: Kevin Johnson.

• When: Final performances are 8 p.m. today and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday.

• Where: Zuzi's Theater, 738 N. Fifth Ave.

• Tickets: $15; discounts available.

• Information: 882-6574.

• Cast: Ryan DeLuca.

• Running time: 90 minutes, no intermission.