Agnes of God

John Pielmeier's play "Agnes of God" opened on Broadway in 1982 with a cast that included Elizabeth Ashley, Geraldine Page, and Amanda Plummer. It tells the tale of a young novice who has been sheltered from the world all her life. One night, she is found unconscious in her convent room after having given birth to a baby, which is found dead in a wastebasket. This shocking incident gives rise to a whole set of questions: Who was the father? Why did no one know about Agnes' pregnancy? Is she really as simple and naive as she seems? And, most importantly, who killed the baby?The play features three terrific roles for actresses: Agnes, the Mother Superior, and the court-appointed psychiatrist, Dr. Livingstone. The script is not without its flaws: the science vs. faith conceit is played out a little too simply, and some of the symbolism is heavy-handed to say the least (the doctor trades her obsessive chain-smoking for an obsessive fixation on Agnes). The play was also made into a rather tepid movie which unwisely opened up the claustrophobic office/convent interview scenario and added superfluous characters and subplots. Meg Tilly and Anne Bancroft both earned much-deserved Oscar nominations for their excellent performances, but Jane Fonda is miscast and less than obsessive in the role of Dr. Livingstone.This audio recording, however, makes one forget any flaws in the script and completely erases any sour memory of the misjudged film version. It is gripping in every way. Harriet Harris carries the show in a bravura performance as Dr. Livingstone ("X-files" fans will remember her from the terrific "Eve" episode). She is not afraid to be curt and unlikable, and she carries a chip on her shoulder the size of a Buick. Every shifting emotion is immediately audible in her highly expressive voice: wry condescenion, bitter regret, volcanic rage, and aching sorrow all come into play. Her final, gut-wrenching monologue is absolutely harrowing. With a performance like Harris', visuals become unnecessary.Harris' force-of-nature portrayal could easily overwhelm less accomplished co-stars, but Barbara Bain and Emily Bergl more than hold their own. Bain is sympathetic and likable as the Mother Superior, a welcome contrast to Harris' caustic doctor. She matches Harris step for step in their emotional confrontations and gives equal weight to the Mother's deep sense of spirituality and the earthier, more secular side of the character. This is no caricature, but a flesh-and-blood human being.Emily Bergl (who was the one bright spot in the otherwise limp "The Rage: Carrie 2") makes a perfect Agnes: childlike, eager to please, and slightly otherworldly. She gives her ludicrous answers to the doctor's questions in such a matter-of-fact manner that one simply can't write her off as insane. Because of her utter conviction in everything she says, we as listeners must at least consider the fact that the visions and voices she sees and hears might be real.

Those who have seen the movie Agnes of God be warned - it can not compare to the actual play. Reading the play is just as fulfilling as seeing it performed. Three characters - a shrink, a mother superior, and an innocent nun. Throughout the play, roles are examined, discarded, built upon and interchanged between the three characters. The author gives the characters real depth. Readers can see themselves in any of the three roles without any trouble.

John Pielmeier's Agnes Of God is a contemporary murder mystery set within the confines of a modern Catholic convent. Agnes is a devout, innocent young nun accused of infanticide. As a psychiatrist (herself a lapsed Catholic) and the Mother Superior struggle over Agnes' fate, the play plunges deeply into the mystery of faith and the consequence of truth. This superb audio play production features Barbara Bain as the Mother Superior, Emily Bergl as Agnes, and Harriet Harris as Dr. Martha Livingstone. Under the accomplished direction of Nancy Malone, Pielmeier's compelling tale is wonderfully underscored with the choral music of Kathryn Skatula, Ali Olmo and Teri Bibb. The recording techniques are flawless and present a true "theatre of the mind" experience that is both memorable and commanding.