Theater Review: At the Corner of Faith & Reason

Explorations on Why We
Think the Way We Do
By Lauren Yarger
Give two playwrights an empty stage, two actors and a challenge to write a one-act on the theme of faith and what you get is a GraceNotes production of At the Corner of Reason playing at the Cherry Lane’s Studio Theater.

The refreshingly quick 50-minute program offers two plays, Parent Teacher by Sharyn Rothstein, directed by Kel Haney, and Dissonance by Craig Pospisil, directed by Jim Eliot.

Parent Teacher is a clash of cultures explored through intriguing dialogue between a Muslim teacher and the mother of one of her students.

Teacher Rena Ayoubi (Suzanne Barbetta) is concerned about her student Cory’s lack of focus and preoccupation with flirting while wearing less-then-modest clothing. Her single working mother Keisha Daniels (Cherelle Cargill) feels the outfits are an expression of her daughter’s freedom and creativity and resents interference by the hijab-wearing teacher.

The conversation gets personal – and very interesting – as the women ask questions and try to explain why they believe what they do. Wearing the hijab to cover her hair is an act she does every day for God and for herself, Rena says. She challenges Rena to try it on. She refuses, but finally acquiesces. She tells Rena that to Cory, wearing the hijab and long sleeves and a long skirt teaches her daughter something subtly every day – that her teacher thinks she needs to be covered up because she’s a woman. She counters by challenging Rena to teach without it. At first she refuses, then acquiesces (probably unrealistically).

The dialogue is sharp and tight and is a lesson in how to relate to folks whose faith is different.

The second play, Dissonance,  sees Tricia (Deborah Jean Morgan) interrupts preparations being made by funeral home employee Fitz (William Peden) for her mother’s memorial service. Tricia hadn’t spent a lot of time toward the end with the mother who had forgotten her through Alzheimer’s, but Fitz found comfort in regular visits with his former piano teacher after a nerve disorder destroyed the feeling in his hands and his career as a concert pianist.

This play really has nothing to do with faith, but lands more on the “reason” side as the characters explore motive through their dialogue.

The two plays are running in repertory with 3Graces’ production of As it is in Heaven through June 11 Tickets are $18 and are now available online at www.telecharge.com or by calling 212-239-6200. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the theater box office one half hour prior to performance.

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