“In Medieval Times…” Well, no. That’s not the line, not exactly. But that’s what got said. And since it was Hollie saying it, I get a sudden image of Hollie’s Agnes at Medieval Times, brandishing a turkey leg, smiling an angelic, goofy smile and cheering on the black knight to victory. I smother a bout of church giggles, and move on. The giggles happen to me when my mind can’t handle something ridiculously awful. When I was in school, they bubbled up at the sight of a mentally disabled girl who hobbled into class on a crutch one day- because the powers that be decided one handicap just wasn’t enough. In this case, it isn’t Hollie so much as the situation in which her character finds herself: Agnes is a young innocent, unschooled, who truly believes she must loose weight or God won’t love her. Add to that an unexplainable traumatic event, and it makes it all just a bit much. This whole play runs the risk of all being just a bit much, of course. It’s not; It wouldn’t be so we regarded if it was simply over-the-top melodrama, but all the blood and agony and secrets and hypnotism scenes for goodness’ sake!- It reminds me that every moment of Agnes of God must be examined, and performed as it’s own separate point in time, without any preconceptions or expectations. And if we giggle a bit, well, stranger things have happened.
– Nate Beynon
First reading of Agnes of God. Excited to finally start this journey, especially with such able traveling companions. From left to right, Kathleen Reilly, our Dr. Livingstone, Robin Leary, reading Mother Miriam, the indispensable Nick Himmelwright, our stage manager, and Hollie Miller on the right, who’s tackling the role of Sister Agnes. It’s a wonderfully exhilarating feeling, hearing these three amazing actresses knock the text out of the park, just sitting there at the table. Each has a distinct voice, and a very clear idea of who their character is, already, and you can sense what this trio will sound like after the show has been put up on it’s feet. It won’t happen over night, of course, and there will be certainly still be challenges, but, as they say, “We have a show”.