Divine
85 minutes – no intermission – 6w, 2m
Part circus, part ghost story, part religious inquisition, Divine is a fast-paced tale of mystery and miracles told with wicked humor and beguiling wisdom. The story takes place within the walls of Pennhaven Institution for the “feeble minded and epileptic” in 1963, before the IDEA and ADA laws were passed to protect the rights of people with disabilities. As the play unfolds, we meet three adults who are entrusted with the care of a vulnerable young resident named Divine. Boundaries are crossed, and suspicions are raised as Divine is passed from hand to hand, and not always gently. A mystery festers at the core of the action and a sense of impending doom fills the air even as a full moon rises, and a quartet of saints and martyrs appear to help their earthly counterparts. As they all compete for attention and acclaim, each character’s best and worst aspects are amplified and reflected in Divine’s placid countenance. By play’s end, souls are exposed, the lost are found, and salvation comes in a most surprising way.
Production History: Divine thrilled a capacity crowd with a staged reading at Actors Bridge Ensemble space downstairs at the Darkhorse on Sunday, October 14, 2018. Previously, Divine received its first full reading by professional actors in Nashville, TN, at a private venue in March of 2018. The play was also workshopped at the Nashville Story Garden, at Centennial Arts Center in Nashville, TN, in the latter part of 2017 and early 2018.
