New play provokes controversy
By Catherine Pillsbury
Staff Reporter

Three women, connected by pregnancies, secrets and Catholicism, are at the center of an ethical debate that makes them question their faith in the theater department’s season-opening production, “Agnes of God.”

Faith is the foundation of this play, not religion, said director Jennifer Engler, assistant professor of theater.

A pregnant nun, accused of killing her baby, is pulled between the mother superior who wants to protect her and the psychiatrist who is desperate for the truth.

“I think that when we talk about faith it can be in very general terms,” Engler said. “It doesn’t have to be used in religious terms, just accepting something that we can’t see and touch and feel.”

“Agnes of God” includes a three-member cast of theater majors, juniors Jessica McClendon and Leah Jeffers, and senior Monique Lara. The play opens Wednesday at 8 p.m. and will run through Saturday.

Though the play takes place within the Catholic Church and deals with heavy topics, the focus is not meant to be controversial, Jeffers said.

“It makes it more interesting since it’s a pregnant nun, so it will have more controversy, but it wouldn’t be good if it didn’t,” she said.

Jeffers said it’s the kind of theater she likes to do because it’s different and not just a play to attract the masses.

“People don’t go out on a limb anymore,” she said.

McClendon said the production is really something that each person will see differently.

“This play can be controversial, but it just depends on what people want to take offense at, like a pregnant nun or dirty language,” she said. “It’s just people’s perception.”

All three actresses agreed that it is a challenging play.

Engler said dealing with heavy topics night after night has been tough.

“It’s the constant need to be so emotionally involved,” she said. “It’s a roller coaster for our actors, so keeping them from getting bogged down is a challenge at times.”

McClendon, who has to cry on cue and go into labor, said it’s demanding because if she doesn’t get into it, then she won’t cry and the play won’t work.

Lara said she looked at the play’s theme as how Catholicism, as a faith, affected Agnes, mother superior and the doctor.

More than anything, it plays on the human aspect of religion in general, she said.

Engler said the play does not force any certain conclusion.

“It raises essential questions but doesn’t answer any,” Engler said. “I hope people will show up and want to be provoked to think about some things.”