Agnes of God involves these three powerful characters setting out to solve the mysterious conception, birth and subsequent death of a baby born by the young Agnes. The women immediately bring the strength of their convictions to the situation in this excellent production by Clevelander Seth Gordon. Each character represents an extreme in personality type, taking their respective corners as the play begins. However,the audience watches as the triangle slowly begins to break down as the boundaries and hard edges of each womans belief systems wear away under their burden of simply being human.
Mr. Gordon presents a superb production that moves swiftly,delivering facts and emotion through the hard driving Dr. Martha Livingstone, played by Elizabeth Ann Townsend. Townsend delivers a phenomenal, emotionally charged performance. Dr. Livingstone saves her deepest emotions for personal vignettes directed at the audience. We learn more about her than the other characters do through her confessional monologues that serve to advance the main plot. The disturbed Agnes, played by Alicia Kahn, moves the most hardened cynic even before we learn of her past. Ms. Kahn’s tender portrayal of the troubled young nun who is detached from a basic sense of reality, elicits genuine depth and anger when hypnotized in order to help the Doctor uncover facts surrounding the death of her baby.
Planted firmly in the middle of the Doctor and Agnes is Mother Miriam Ruth, played by Sherri Britton. Mother Miriam has not lived a sequestered life for her entire adulthood and has the unique perspective of both sides as the mystery unfolds. It is her role throughout the play to keep Agnes and the Doctor at arm’s length, preventing either from becoming too close. To keep the production moving, Mr. Gordon uses all three actors to convey information. When Dr. Livingstone is asking hard questions of Mother Miriam, the lighting fades on the Doctor, and Agnes enters the stage to begin a discussion with Mother Miriam. This technique adds dimension to the story and serves the audience’s need to understand the historical narrative without being easily spoon-fed a verbal exchange by only two actors. It is an interesting and compelling method that enhances the production and display Mr. Gordon’s highly professional technique.
Agnes of God presents some insightful questions through its powerful dialogue. The sparse stage provides few distractions to the actors as they put science and faith toe to toe, allowing each other some territory in the age-old debate. Much more than a statement on spirituality and faith, <em>Agnes of God</em> is at its heart, a solid mystery that can’t help but lay bare the discussion of faith, miracles, belief and doubt.
Agnes of God runs till May 2 at The Beck Center for the Arts, located at the west end of Detroit Avenue in Lakewood. Go early for a drink in the Beck lobby or stop by one of the many Lakewood taverns and restaurants for an appetizer or dinner. The Beck Center for the Arts, 521-2540 or http://www.lkwdpl.org/beck/
From Cool Cleveland contributor Tom Perrino (:divend:)