Review: The Rep's MOLLY'S HAMMER Delivers Powerful Impact

Although activism is still alive and well, one wonders if future generations will be moved to make change due to their increased isolationism. We live in a world where people feel more and more entitled, and have been raised to expect instant gratification. People who make a stand are becoming rarer and rarer to find. Maybe that's why a play like Tammy Ryan's MOLLY'S HAMMER (based on the book Hammer of Justice by Liane Ellison Norman) is so important. The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis has, again, put together an outstanding production that will make you ponder weighty issues that still exist, but that have been replaced by a fear of terrorism that can arrive so suddenly and unexpectedly that we feel helpless against it. Maybe that's why you should take a young adult with you to experience this story. Nuclear weapons are still a threat to our continued existence on this planet, and we must never forget that we have a duty as citizens of the world to speak out and act out against tyranny. This excellent show takes us back to 1980, when a Pittsburgh housewife took just such a stand.

Before the brief period of glasnost that cooled heated relations between Russia and the United States, we were locked in an long standing arms race that seems supremely foolhardy in retrospect. I mean, what's the point of having enough warheads to blow the world up several times over. Once would be enough, don't you think. It certainly raised the ire of one Molly Rush, who joined up with a group named the "Plowshares Eight", whose purpose was to put an end to this madness. Molly saw the buildup as a personal affront, directly affecting the safety of her family, and as such, set herself on a course which found her wielding the titular hammer in a General Electric plant, with the intent of striking the nosecone of one of these weapons of mass destruction.

Nancy Bell does superlative work as Molly, giving us a portrait that compels us to root for her in her journey. The first half of the story leads us to the moment of entering the plant, while the second half follows the legal issues that plague such a decision. Her husband Bill, vert nicely played by Joe Osherhoff), eventually comes to understand what all the fuss is about, but it's a choice that takes time for him to wrap his head around. When he does, it's a moment when you see the genuine love that exists between this husband and wife blossom again. Kevin Orton expertly takes on a variety of roles as he portrays all the other characters, including family members, clergy, and company men with no patience for what they view as militant nonsense.

Seth Gordon's direction is sharp and refined. He finds the heart at the center of this piece and, with the aid of an awfully talented cast, makes us care deeply about their fates. Gianni Downs keeps the scenic design simple and unobtrusive, and Lou Bird's costumes act in much the same manner, fitting the characters, but not drawing undue attention. Mark Wilson's lighting scheme zeroes in on each moment with precision, and Amanda Werre adds an effective sound design.

It is true, after all, that if we don't know our own history, we're surely doomed to repeat it. That makes MOLLY'S HAMMER both special and important. It's a reminder that individuals can make a difference. The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis have given us plenty to think about, and I think that's the hallmark of truly great theatre. Go see it before it ends on March 27, 2016 in the Studio Theatre of the Loretto-Hilton.

Photo credit: Jerry Naunheim, Jr.

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