This summer, Brava! For Women In The Arts is proud to present Agnes of God at the Brava Theater Center in San Francisco, CA. First premiering in 1979 and then on Broadway in 1982, John Pielmeier’s complex, thought-provoking, and emotionally raw play is about a novice nun named Agnes, who is accused of murder after a newborn was found in a wastebasket in her bedroom. Dr. Martha Livingstone, an atheist and court-assigned psychiatrist interviews Agnes to figure out if the innocent nun is mentally stable or otherwise. Then, there is Mother Superior Mariam Ruth, who seems to know more about Agnes and the situation than she lets on. It is loosely based on the 1977 case of Sister Maureen Murphy, who was found not guilty through reasons of insanity.
Throughout the course of the play, the three women learn how to cope with religious trauma, mental health, and the power of belief and disbelief. It also provides an interesting example highlighting the religion vs science argument through Martha and the Mother Superior that have in-depth, valid reasons for each of their stances. Bringing the story of Agnes of God to life on the stage is Taylor Bauernfeind, making this production her directorial debut, and the set and costumes are designed by Kayla Strand and Justine Foung respectfully. The cast consists of three incredibly talented actors: Cynthia Bassham as the Mother Superior, Shannon Murphy as Martha, and Bridgette Betanzos as the titular lead, Agnes.
When asked the reason why Bauernfieind wanted to direct an arguably controversial play, she said, “There are many complexities when it comes to why someone is religious or not. As, for lack of a better word, misguided as Agnes is in regards to God and Christianity, the strength of her devotion is quite remarkable and pure. Martha has gone through so much religious trauma growing up, so it is understandable when she is skeptical about the Mother Superior’s testimonies and overprotective nature towards Agnes. The play is about the human instinct in wanting to believe in something and encourage the audience to seek different forms of healing that suits them best. With how divided our country currently is, some would say it would be difficult or even dangerous to bring something like Agnes of God to the stage. However, I believe that’s what makes it crucial to showcase this piece to 21st century audiences. There are so many people who have gone through traumatic experiences both inside and outside a religious upbringing, and that’s what makes it important for everyone to come together and support one another so the healing process can truly begin.”
Speaking of healing, Brava is also in collaboration with Recovering from Religion (RfR) for this production. RfR is a nonprofit that helps people who are planning to leave or have left a religious environment, and they provide resources to assist with various needs like alleviating Religious Trauma Syndrome, supporting various communities like the LGBTQIA+ community, and seeking therapy or mental health assistance. Members of RfR will be available in the lobby of the Brava Theater Center before and after performances to provide more information for anyone interested in the program. You can also visit https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/ for more information and resources.
Agnes of God will run from July 13th to September 15th, 2022. General admission tickets for people 18 years older and up will cost $14.00, and there will be a student discount and will cost $10.00 along with a valid student ID card. 10% of all ticket sales will go to Recovering from Religion and help those in need. The shows will be set on a Wednesday through Sunday schedule with matinees every Saturday and Sunday. Along with the matinees, there will be an after-performance discussion with Bauernfeind, the cast, and members of RfR. This will include behind the scenes stories, a personal reflection about how the play has impacted everyone in the rehearsal process, and a Q&A talkback with the audience. All are welcome here at this year’s production of Agnes of God, and we look forward to seeing you there!