Review: Mustard Seed Theatre's Extraordinary ELEEMOSYNARY

The title of Lee Blessing's play, ELEEMOSYNARY, refers to the word one of the characters successfully spells, winning a spelling bee in the process, but also to the very definition of it; charitable. It's an intriguing story of three generations of women, all of whom are extraordinarily gifted in one way or another. These individual gifts are both a blessing and a curse to each character, and ultimately greatly affect the way they interact with one another. This is a moving and fascinating story driven by the relationships between these three women, and Mustard Seed Theatre's production is challenging theatre that provides a must-see experience.

Echo is the daughter of Artemis, a highly intelligent women who has total recall. She had originally named her offspring Barbara, but her willful and proudly eccentric mother, Dorothea, rechristened her Echo, so that her name would represent what she wanted her to be; a person who could receive and give back all the beauty of the world around her. Dorothea, after being denied the opportunity to go to college, and instead forced into an arranged marriage, embraced eccentricity after meeting a spiritualist. This choice is lost on her estranged daughter Artemis, who grew up thinking her mother was more than a little left of center with some her pursuits. But despite her own unusual upbringing, when her husband passes, she leaves her daughter behind to be raised by Dorothea. This creates a burning desire within Echo to connect with the mother she never really knew. There's a lot more to this story, but I'd give away all its many charms if I delved any deeper.

Austen Danielle Bohmer is superb as Echo, and she adroitly handles the task of playing the character at various stages in her life, even when she is portraying her as an infant. This distinct ability allows us to see how she is affected throughout by the conflicts between her birth mother and the grandmother who raised her. We can't help but empathize with her frustration with her mother's inability to be a proper parent, and we're stunned by the brilliance she displays when it comes to not only spelling words, but understanding what they mean. Kelley Weber also does wonderful work as Artemis, who finds herself in constant flight from the reach of her own mother, yet thinks so little of her own ability to connect in a meaningful way with her own daughter, that she basically abandons her. Nancy Lewis is a treat as Dorothea, skillfully exploiting the admittedly bizarre behavior she sometimes exhibits, while still winning us over with her matter of fact attitude. In one or another, all these characters are conflicted, and yet Dorothea is at peace with herself, even though she knows that her own choices as a mother were often misguided when she raised Artemis.

As a director, Doug Finlayson is a true craftsman, allowing these talented actresses to explore these complex roles in ways that bring them to life on stage. His guidance is spot on, deftly mining this piece for the humor and heart beneath the intellect. Kyra Bishop creates a multilevel scenic design that is clever constructed with shapes that appear to mimic the various letters and characters used by a printing press. Michael Sullivan's lighting scheme is moody and evocative, and focuses our attention with outstanding precision. Jane Sullivan's costumes reflect each character's unique personality, and Zoe Sullivan's sound design nicely underscores transitions in the text.

Mustard Seed Theatre's production of ELEEMOSYNARY is truly inspired, and inspiring. I was genuinely touched by this unusual trio of women, and you will be as well. This splendid presentation continues through February 21, 2016 in the black box theatre at Fontbonne University.

Photo credit: John Lamb

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