“Come see my play!” -You
“What’s it called?” -Random Person
“AS IT IS IN HEAVEN by Arlene Hutton directed by Francesca Patrón” -You
“I’ve never heard of it, what’s it about?” -Random Person
“It’s kinda like THE CRUCIBLE by Arthur Miller meets AGNES OF GOD by John Pielmeier and they had a baby named AS IT IS IN HEAVEN by Arlene Hutton, but then the movie MIDSOMMAR by Ari Aster babysat that kid a lot.” -You
Comparative Analysis: "Agnes of God" and "As It Is in Heaven"
Agnes of God - Overview
John Pielmeier's "Agnes of God" (1979) centers on a young nun who gives birth in a convent and claims no memory of the conception or birth. The child is found dead, and a psychiatrist must determine Agnes's mental state while confronting her own beliefs about faith and reason.
Key Themes in Agnes of God
- Faith vs. Science: The play explores the tension between religious belief and scientific/psychological explanation.
- Trauma and Memory: The work delves deep into psychological trauma and its relationship with religious experience.
- Institutional Religion: The play examines how religious institutions handle crisis and protect their members.
- Miracle vs. Madness: Central to the play is the question of whether Agnes's experiences are divine or psychological in nature.
Thematic Connections
Both plays explore similar themes but approach them from different angles:
- Religious Experience: Both works examine the nature of divine experiences within religious communities, though "Agnes of God" takes a more psychological approach while "As It Is in Heaven" explores more communal aspects.
- Authority and Investigation: Both plays feature investigations into spiritual claims, though "Agnes of God" uses an external investigator while "As It Is in Heaven" explores internal community judgment.
- Female Spirituality: Both works center on women's religious experiences, though "Agnes of God" focuses on individual trauma while "As It Is in Heaven" examines collective spiritual awakening.
- Institutional Response: Both plays examine how religious institutions handle unusual spiritual manifestations, though with different stakes and outcomes.
Critical Differences