The Oath

Written by Jaqueline Goldfinger

Directed by Christina Alicea

Maieutic Theatre Works

The Arclight Theatre

152 West 71st Street

212-595-0355

 

Review by Kayla Asbell

 

Promises, Promises: Sarah Chaney takes The Oath at the Arclight Theatre.

 

The Oath never breaks its solemn promise to be an intriguing journey through the swampy American South and the often-swampier territory of faith, justice and human kindness, or lack thereof.

 

The story follows a traveling preacher, Joshua, across the Depression-era Dust Bowl to the home of a wise and holy man. However, the longer Joshua is kept from meeting the wise man, Reverend Tate, the more he begins to uncover the dark truth lurking in the Tate household. The Reverend’s two daughters run the church and estate: the “fallen” Cebe, with the nasty reputation, and the seemingly ideal daughter, Ophelia. As Joshua’s relationships with the two women deepen, his morals become questioned. Meanwhile, the prim-and-proper and oh-so-despicable Mrs. Lecroix, wife of the president of the church board, constantly tries to bring the Tate family to the brink of destruction. In the name of her faith, she commits horrific acts and only begs for forgiveness upon being caught. The most mysterious and endearing character of the servant, Deck, tries to preserve the equilibrium of the house, until she is forced to reveal her own dark secrets.

 

Despite occasional lapses into the melodramatic, Jacqueline Goldfinger’s play remains truthful and the characters never deviate into disingenuous territory. Although the language is heightened, the actors handle it in a natural and masterful manner, never allowing the audience to question the text’s authenticity. 

 

All of the actors make themselves at home, taking root in the soil, and soul, of the play. One exception is perhaps Robin Madel’s portrayal of the villainous Mrs. Lecroix, which is presentational, rather than grounded in truth. Her presence feels like more of a threat when she’s offstage than when she’s on. Sarah Chaney’s portrayal of Ophelia exudes quiet power while her vulnerability simmers beneath. Louise Flory’s Cebe takes the archetype of the “hooker with a heart of gold” and makes it something complex. Anthony Crep, as Joshua, is so passionate, genuine and confused that it makes even the staunchest non-believer want to stand up and pray with him. But it’s Dianna Martin who truly steals the show with her portrayal of the seemingly simple, but truly tumultuous Deck. Her performance is one of the most honestly developed, heart-breaking and heart-warming embodiments of a character that I have seen onstage in a long time.

 

The Oath sends its audience upon a mind-enriching exploration in which we leave with more questions than answers—questions that will haunt even the most resistant audience member’s mind.