Epic tackles religion and family relationships

Don Fowler
Posted 11/12/14

Take a loving mother (Mary Paolino), a wandering son (Stephen Peterson) and a searching gay ghostwriter (Kevin Broccoli). Put them together in a room (specifically an Episcopal priest’s study) and …

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Epic tackles religion and family relationships

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Take a loving mother (Mary Paolino), a wandering son (Stephen Peterson) and a searching gay ghostwriter (Kevin Broccoli). Put them together in a room (specifically an Episcopal priest’s study) and watch the conflicts that arise.

That is basically the gist of Keith Bunin’s two-act play, “The Busy World is Hushed,” being performed by Epic Theatre through November 23 at Artists’ Exchange’s intimate Black Box, 50 Rolfe St. in Cranston.

Hannah is a widowed Episcopalian priest whose husband has apparently committed suicide. She has hired Brandt to help her write a book about a newly discovered gospel but appears to have a hidden agenda that involves her son, Thomas.

The author uses most of his dialogue challenging the writing of the four original gospels, while also approaching the question of sexual preferences within the church’s teaching.

Brandt struggles with the existence of a benevolent God, while watching his father die of a brain tumor. Thomas struggles with the death of a father he never knew, trying to understand how his mother could console her parishioners and project an unflinching faith.

Broccoli, who I consider an excellent playwright, heaps big praise on Bunin’s writing, which I don’t share.

I found the play a bit pedantic and contrived. Bunin raises religious questions that have been discussed to death over the years, without offering anything new.

The three actors do their best with the shallow roles, as they search for meaning in their own lives. They do succeed in making you think about your own relationship to a higher being…and to those you love.

For reservations and further information, check them out on www.epictheatre.org.

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