The Runner Stumbles by Milan Stitt
The Herndon Times Review
THEATER
Elden Street Players open season with fine acting
By Michael Birchenall
Weekender Theater Critic
Weekender Section
TIMES COMMUNITY
NEWSPAPER (The Herndon Times)
Wednesday, November 3, 1999
Elden Street Players' (ESP) season opener, "The Runner Stumbles,"
by Milan Stitt, revisits the themes of guilt, faith and the Catholic Church in a
murder drama that keeps the audience in a state of uncomfortable squirming for
the play's duration.
Directed by Gloria DuGan to take full advantage of the angst and trepidation
that comes with the acceptance of God's will, the actors traverse the scenes
with a sad energy that leads to its inevitable conclusion. Did Father Brian
Rivard (based on an actual murder case in Michigan in the early 20th century)
kill Sister Rita, a nun serving in his parish? It really doesn't matter.
Playwright Stitt uses the stage to tell the story from three views-from the
jail cell of the accused priest, from the time and places of the events leading
up to the murder, and from the courtroom. DuGan effectively controls the action
as it moves between time and place.
Rivard is played by Todd C. Huse, who plays the part with a heaviness that
takes away any sense of salvation for the beleaguered priest. Huse never
convinces me that there is any real reason for compassion for him-and perhaps
his character never had a chance.
Susan W. Talbott gives us an impassioned side of love and goodness as a nun
teacher with a belief that this idealism should be compatible with the teaching
and hierarchy of the Catholic Church-not necessarily so, as she so cruelly finds
out.
Talbott is serene in her interpretation of the nun and convincing in her
devotion to her ideals. She is angelic in her delivery and appearance-as if she
comes with an automatic sensor of a gentle spotlight.
In the end, one must ask if anything has been added to this ongoing
examination of man's relationship to God and humanity and its organized
entities-church and community. I think perhaps not, but just a contemplative
thought at all is a victory in our modern time of prosperity, when the hard
debates can be so easily pushed aside while we enjoy the good life.
Elden Street Players is never afraid to open up its stage to take the hard
look at life-never sacrificing good drama for the glossy no-brainers. It looks
like another fine season of theater at ESP.
