CDS sets Agnes of God
About the article
This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from November 1995.
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The setting is an isolated convent where the infant of a young nun is found strangled. A court-appointed psychiatrist takes on the job of discovering whether the devout girl is fit to stand trial. Along her journey towards the truth, the psychiatrist is assured by the intractable Mother Superior that the young nun has no memory of the pregnancy.
During the probe, the psychiatrist deals with her own feelings about religion and uncovers unusual aspects of the nun's personality. She must discover if Agnes is a hysterical young woman or if her ordeal has been divinelyinspired.
The play is written by Mr. John Spielmeier, who received a bachelor of arts degree in speech and drama at the Catholic University of America and a master of fine arts degree in playwriting at Penn State University.
"Agnes of God" was first presented as a staged reading at the 1979 Eugene O'Neill Playwrights Conference. Its first professional production was in 1980 and it opened on Broadway two years later.
In 1986 it was made into a film, which starred Jane Fonda, Anne Bancroft and Meg Tilly. Director Mr. Bill Bazelmans said he chose the play because "I'm generally moved by it... I've admired John Spielmeier's writing."
The psychiatrist, Dr. Martha Livingstone, is played by Penny Phillips, who is perhaps best remembered for her performance in "Fallen Angels" at the Harquail. Theatre. Mother Superior is portrayed by Caroline Beresford-Wylie and Agnes by Juliette Austin.
The production will play at the Prospect Playhouse every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night between 30 November and 16 December at 7:30pm. Friday night performances will be dinner theatre.
Admission is $12.50 for adults, $8 for children and $25 for dinner theatre. A 20 per cent discount will be given for parties of 10 or more. For information and reservations call 949-5585.
