Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): As It is in Heaven play at Taproot Theatre. Interesting glimpse into the repressive & austere #Shakers culture from the women’s perspective. Reminded me of a catholic nunnery. Great vision (or hallucination?) scenes. “The emperor has no clothes!” #shaker #quaker #quakers
Synopsis from the Theatre: “Tis a gift to be simple,” sing the Shakers of Pleasant Hill. But as the young women in the community claim new spiritual gifts, Sister Hannah and the other elders must judge whether these gifts are real or rebellion. Set during America’s surge of Utopian communities, the play wrestles with belief and doubt in a swiftly changing world.
Reviewed Performance: 3/25/23 Opening Weekend Matinee
Type: Play
World Premiere: No
Several or Few Scenes: Several
Several or Few Settings: Several
Defined Plot/Storyline: Seemed more like loosely-connected chronological vignettes than an actual defined plot
Recommendation: See it especially if you grew up in a conservative church
Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show: Yes
Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now: Probably not but it was good
Rating Compared to Other Shows with the Same Production Value:
4.5 Stars (Out of 5 Stars)
Equity Actors: 2
Total Number of Actors: 9
Length (Including Any Intermission): 2 hours
Intermission: Yes
Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts
- Songs: The actresses sang traditional Shaker hymns/spirituals occasionally between scenes in chant-like unison a cappella. Apparently, harmony was sinful!
- Diction and Accents: The playwright and performers recreated how the Shakers might have sounded like back then. For example, “it wasn’t a dream” became “weren’t not a dream.”
- Visions: My favorite scenes were when “the chosen” congregation members experienced hallucination-like “shaking” visions that reminded me of Pentecostals speaking in tongues. The claims of experiencing these visions were also reminiscent of The Crucible play.
- “Pray for Me” Scene: Good commentary on when the pious only tritely say they’ll pray for someone but doesn’t make any effort to actually help them. It reminded me of abortion protestors who don’t support welfare programs that help mothers who can’t afford to raise the children they’re forced to carry.
- Favorite Line: “I was prideful of my new apron” uttered during public confessional
Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)
- Religious Repression: The depictions of religious repression reminded me of one reason why I left the church. However, the oppressive austerity in As It is in Heaven was extreme compared to what I grew up with. The Shakers in the play weren’t even allowed to draw, laugh, or enjoy life. It made me think of something NSFW Samantha said about conservative Charlotte in Sex and the City.
- Social Welfare: An interesting conversation in the play alluded that a character didn’t believe in the Shaker faith, but religion was their “social security” and “Medicare” plan for when they become elderly. If I don’t have kids, maybe I need to join a congregation like this!
- Fears of Obscurity: The play frequently touched on the universal irrelevancy/inadequately feeling elders might experience when replaced by up-and-coming youth.
- Moral of the Story: I couldn’t grasp what message the playwright was conveying to the audience. Was it just a depiction of Shaker life and nothing more?
Theatre Company: Taproot Theatre
Venue: Taproot Theatre – Jewell Mainstage
Venue Physical Address: 212 N 85th St, Seattle, WA 98103
Price: Medium
Ticket Affordability Options: Pay what you can days, GoldStar, and TodayTix
Dates: March 22 to April 22, 2023
Seating: Assigned Seating
Parking: Paid lot or usually-free street parking. I almost always find free street parking on Greenwood Ave just South of the theatre.
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Other Video +/- Pictures: See pictures in video and under video below by Robert Wade Photography
@showsiveseen “As It is in Heaven” #play at @taproottheatre by Arlene Hutton. Interesting glimpse into the repressive & austere #Shakers culture from the women’s perspective. Reminded me of a Catholic nunnery. Great vision (or hallucination?) scenes. “The emperor has no clothes!” Photos by Robert Wade. Review: showsiveseen.com/4573 #shaker #quaker #quakers #theatre ♬ Enough – Dylan Rockoff
