In the spirit of A Soldier's Story, director Norman Jewison has done a fine job translating this work from the stage to the screen. This estimator is only for non-equity/amateur productions. I was so swept away by the work done there that I returned to New York City determined to go back to the ONeill as a playwright. AGNES: Only you think youre lucky because you didnt have a mother who said things to you and did things that maybe werent always nice, but thats what you think, because you dont know that my mother was a wonderful person, and even if you did know that you wouldnt believe it because you think she was bad, dont you. You have a conflict between two life-worlds antithetical life worlds that seem opposed to each other, so that the play becomes a soul-stirring drama about all sorts of things: about miracles and the clash between reason and faith, the secular world and the religious world, the celestial and the terrestrial, and it is through these three distinct characters that all this is achieved. Livingstone comes to a point where she cannot continue on the case. Already a member? Mother Miriam tells Livingston that Agnes is an "innocent" who was kept at home by her mother and knows nothing about the world. . So she is highly protective of Agnes, and afraid of how the court-appointed psychiatrist might dissect Agness psyche and diminish or destroy her fragile spirit. It reaches for a far loftier philosophical subject, which is, I think, the possibility of miracles. The dramatist calls it "a detective story, not only of the world, but of the mind and of the soul." The film conveys is a very intense and involving way the ambiguity of contemporary attitudes toward miracles individuals evidence both hunger . This Tony Award-winning Broadway play has been adapted for the screen by its author, John Pielmeier. Ed. Agnes of God is a 1985 American neo-noir mystery film directed by Norman Jewison and starring Jane Fonda, Anne Bancroft and Meg Tilly. She was raised Catholic but is now an atheist and seems to distrust religion, although some moments have her questioning her beliefs. I will be giving away no essential secrets if I reveal that the precise details of the conception, birth and murder of the child are never cleared up to anybody's satisfaction. Dr. Martha Livingstone, the court- appointed psychiatrist, wants to discover the truth of the matter hidden behind Agnes's veiled and cloistered mind. She and a young Monsignor argue about whether her lack of faith will leave her unable to treat Agnes with dignity. And . This is only an estimate. The story: A dead baby is found in a lonely convent, where the nuns lead a sequestered life and there are no men who possibly could have been the father - unless you count poor old Father Metineau, the nuns' spiritual adviser, who has a drinking problem. Factory 449's 'Agnes of God' is an emotional, intimate play that speaks to inner struggles. It is service in a lost cause. Agnes is a prisoner who has been condemned to death for the murders of Natan Ketilsson and Ptur Jnsson. Meanwhile, we learn that Fonda has a personal hatred of the Catholic church, that Mother Miriam seems overly concerned with protecting Sister Agnes, that Sister Agnes herself has the sort of ecstatic world-vision usually reserved for saints, and that we should not overlook the possibility that the baby, in fact, had no father. Read more about the play on Breaking Character: Agnes of God: A Conversation with Author John Pielmeier. At the convent, this lapsed Catholic, who is very confident of her clinical skills, meets Mother Miriam Ruth (Anne Bancroft), a worldly wise religious woman who wants to protect the fragile Sister Agnes from any further psychological pain. Copyright 2006 - 2023 by CIStems, Inc., d.b.a. (A historian explains that many old convents have "secret" tunnels, to let the nuns move between buildings during the winter.) Equity/professional customers should contact the Licensing department directly at [emailprotected] to inquire about a title's availability. Mr. Siegel has assembled a first- rate cast. The third character is Dr Martha Livingstone, a professional woman, a lapsed catholic. John Pielmeier is an actor and writer who began his career with the internationally acclaimed play and movie Agnes of God. publication in traditional print. As well as another production starring Peggy Cass and Susan Strasberg. The most recent production is at the Studio Theater in Lindenhurst, through Jan. 6, and it is almost flawless in its execution. [4], During the run, Elizabeth Ashley was succeeded in her role by Diahann Carroll and Amanda Plummer by Mia Dillon, Carrie Fisher and Maryann Plunkett. It remains unclear almost till the end whether Sister Agnes is deranged, an imbecile or a saint. The ending is somewhat inconclusive. The film version changes Livingston's last name, removing the 'e' from Livingstone. They argue about Agnes' mother and birth, and how much Agnes knows about sex and pregnancy. Agnes Moorhead, actress. Before becoming a nun, Miriam was unhappily married with two daughters. Pielmeier was inspired to write the play after seeing an article in a newspaper about an event that occurred in a convent in Brighton, New York, just outside the city limits of Rochester. But, just as much, Dr Livingstone starts a conversation about the Divine and his manifestations, the Church and our relationship to it, sainthood and what it stands for, and so on. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. publication online or last modification online. The Backstory eNotes.com Word Count: 342. Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, "Theatre Factory looks at faith, failings with 'Agnes of God', "Miss Ashley Replaces Lee Remick in 'Agnes', "'Agnes Of God': The Mysteries Of Belief", "Theatre 27 Aug 1983 The Spectator Archive", "Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Google News Archive Search", "NewspaperARCHIVE.com - Galveston Daily News - 1977-02-17 - Search Newspaper Articles", "Bangor Daily News - Google News Archive Search", "Schenectady Gazette Google News Archive Search", "Schenectady Gazette - Google News Archive Search", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Agnes_of_God&oldid=1098694416, Articles with dead external links from December 2021, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with failed verification from August 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 17 July 2022, at 02:10. Dr Livingstone stirs doubts about what goes on within the religious life, particularly the abuse of authority within that context. She is totally unsuited. Agnes declares that "He" raped her, and that she hates God for it. The director, Roy F. Siegel, has shaped the Pielmeier drama so that the weaknesses inherent in the script are smoothed over and the play's strengths are as fully realized as in the original Broadway production. [3] Reviewers praised the performances of Tilly and Bancroft, but felt that there were holes in the plot and movement. In an interview, Agnes claims she does not remember being pregnant or giving birth, and shows a lack of understanding of how babies are conceived. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. Agnes, who is the daughter of Indra, the god of thunder and war, comes to Earth with orders from her father to establish the reason for the discontent and anguish witnessed among the human. Analysis Quotes Near the end of Agnes of God, Mother Miriam tells Doctor Livingstone that a small miracle has already happened. In this case, the women have survived child abuse, marriage failure, and the loss of a loved one. A psychiatrist is brought in to judge the woman's sanity. Studio Theater is well known for presenting challenging, thought- provoking drama . Request license Get the Script Get an estimate Concord Theatricals Agnes of God Request license Get an estimate Get the Script Details Media [7][8], In 1984, the play was staged in Mexico City, Mexico. Now that this play about a young nun accused of murdering her baby has closed in New York, other theaters have been able to acquire the production rights, which is why a plethora of ''Agnes of Gods'' have recently appeared. Nevertheless, Agnes continues to insist that God gave her the baby. These three women represent the suffering of women, the suffering that results because of the Church, because of religion: but also because of their gender. At the end, all three women in their various ways pay a price for a situation that was set off by something outside of their control. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Although the movie deals in the basic materials of a criminal investigation (cynical cops, forensic details, courtroom testimony), it has a seriously clouded agenda. DOCTOR MARTHA LIVINGSTONE Woman, 40'sMOTHER MIRIAM RUTH Woman, 60'sAGNES Woman, 20's, Outstanding deals intelligently with questions of religion and psychology. The New York Times, Unquestionably blindingly theatrical cleverly executed blood-and-guts evening in the theatre. New York Post, Riveting, powerful, electrifying drama the dialogue crackles. New York Daily News, Agnes of God: A Conversation with Author John PielmeierMarch 9, 2022, Agnes of God - Indiana State University Trailer, Agnes of God - Bats Little Theatre Trailer. A psychiatrist (Jane Fonda) is assigned to the case and it quickly becomes clear that she will learn little from Sister Agnes, who has total amnesia regarding the entire incident. It is never made quite clear what specific problem Sister Agnes suffers from, but she clearly has parts on order. Dr. Livingstone is intelligent and determined. Roger Ebert similarly sided, giving it one star and saying that though it "deals in the basic materials of a criminal investigation (cynical cops, forensic details, courtroom testimony), it has a seriously clouded agenda."[4]. Livingston learns that Agnes' mother was verbally and sexually abusive, telling her she was a "mistake"; and that Agnes is Mother Miriam's niece. Violence also takes the form of a harsh God, or rather of an unfortunate representation of God as a ruthless being. Jackie Bain gives an equally fine performance as the pragmatic, protective Mother Superior. The title is a pun on the Latin phrase Agnus Dei (Lamb of God). The convent is used to house University of Rochester graduate students. Who killed the infant, and who fathered the tiny victim? Near the end of Agnes of God, Mother Miriam tells Doctor Livingstone that a small miracle has already happened. eNotes Editorial. As she pulls out of Agnes the story of the nun's childhood filled with ignorance and physical abuse, she slowly uncovers the darker corners of her own soul. Youre unhappy, arent you? If there are two dates, the date of publication and appearance Agnes of God is a 1985 American neo-noir mystery film directed by Norman Jewison and starring Jane Fonda, Anne Bancroft and Meg Tilly. Sister Agnes is a novice nun in her twenties. By what name was Agnes of God (1985) officially released in Canada in English? Religion centers on the answers to that question. About a year earlier I had seen a headline in the Post or the News shouting Nun Kills Baby! I didnt read the actual story, but something like nine months later I woke up in the middle of the night with an Aha! moment. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. With a sharp script and an exceptional cast, it's an insightful and aching performance that is both . Her refuge is in the convent of a contemplative rather than a teaching order, where she can find self-assurance and self-respect along with internal peace. The 1985 film adaptation was directed by Norman Jewison, with a script also written by Pielmeier. 6th Floor It considers, or pretends to consider, some of the most basic questions of human morality and treats them on the level of "Nancy Drew and the Secret of the Old Convent.". ''Agnes of God'' follows that tradition, and this particular production is one that would be outstanding anywhere it was presented. Agnes of God begins in a Roman Catholic convent near Montreal, as evening prayers are interrupted by screams coming from the room of Sister Agnes. Agnes sings during the play. Its simplicity is carefully planned, and the overall effect of these three chairs and this huge splash of dismal gray color serves to underscore the dialogue. [5] A national tour was launched in 1983. DOCTOR: Yes, I do think your mother was wrong sometimes. Agnes looks and sounds almost angelic. She claims to have no memory of the conception or the birth of the child. Also, the male is present through the underlying references to various institutions. The play doesnt have any male characters, yet both the Church and (one would expect) the Courts at the time were predominantly male. Occasionally Miss Carnevale exhibits flashes of pain, terror and anger that effectively made Agnes vulnerable to the immediate criminal charges as well as to the overwhelming world surrounding her. All attempts to find out who is the father of the baby are fruitless. Although Agnes initially believes that Tabitha is her biological mother, she learns shortly after Tabitha's death that Tabitha adopted . director of photography Film Editing by Antony Gibbs Casting By Gretchen Rennell Production Design by Ken Adam It takes the form of rape. [failed verification] During the trial, the father of the baby was never named. The play was workshopped at the ONeill (Dianne Weist played the title role) and subsequently received an amateur production in Kingston, Jamaica, a production I went to see a week after my father passed away in October. The character covers a full range of emotions and is on stage the whole time. date the date you are citing the material. She must determine if the act was intentional murder or a result of insanity. Agnes's story ends with her rescue and consequently, like "Love and Age," with the rebirth of a character who is near . Sister Agnes is suspected of killing the baby, so psychiatrist Martha Livingston is assigned by a court to determine if she is competent to stand trial. Under questioning, she appears to describe an encounter with a real presence human or divine. A psychiatrist appointed by the court must determine if Sister Agnes is insane or not. Women are victims of sexual violence, of crime, of physical violence, of sexual harassment, and research shows that, along with children, women are the biggest victims of war, and even of climate change. date the date you are citing the material. Miriam sees Agnes as innocent, and comes into conflict with Dr. Livingstone during the investigation. There are no other characters on stage. She does admit to killing her to return her to God. The violence which we have in the play takes various forms, therefore: it takes the form of child abuse. This is a very badly confused movie. The citation above will include either 2 or 3 dates. 1 May 2023
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