Unveiling the mystery: 'Agnes of God' takes the stage at Surfside Playhouse

Surfside Playhouse becomes a place of mystery and spiritual intrigue as the theater opens its first show of the new year, "Agnes of God." The drama by John Pielmeier opens on Friday, Jan. 5 for a run through Jan. 21.

The psychological thriller explores the interplay of faith, doubt and the complexities of the human mind. The story revolves around Agnes, a young novice nun whose seemingly immaculate conception raises eyebrows. When she is accused of murdering her newborn, an investigation is launched and a court psychiatrist, Dr. Martha Livingston, is tasked with unraveling the truth.

"'Agnes Of God' is a fast-paced mystery that explores the intersection of religion, science and reality," said artistic director Bryan Bergeron.

"This is such a unique show," he said. "The dialogue draws you in immediately as the foundation for this mystery unfolds."

"Each question asked leads us to desperately wanting to hear the answer," Bergeron said. "It’s as if the audience's 'need to know' is the driving force propelling the show to it’s conclusion. It’s brilliantly written."

Surfside Playhouse is usually known for its lighthearted fare, including colorful musicals and their popular "fractured" takes on familiar stories. But don't be fooled into thinking the theater shies away from meatier productions.

"Surfside Playhouse has always peppered it’s seasons with dramas," Bergeron said. "In this case, we chose 'Agnes of God' in part because it contains three bucket list roles for female actors."

Tyler King takes on the title role of Agnes, the ethereal novice nun. The role is challenging, demanding a combination of strength and vulnerability.

"[Tyler] tackles the role of Agnes with a fearlessness that brings this complicated character front and center," said Bergeron.

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Becky Behl-Hill takes on the role of Dr. Livingstone with a balance of skepticism and compassion. As the doctor becomes emotionally involved in the mystery, she becomes the foil for the third corner of the dramatic triangle, the Mother Superior, played by Adonna Niosi.

"The two fence their way through the story while occasionally exchanging rapiers for battle axes," Bergeron said.

"These three performers make a wonderful stew that is sure to quench the appetites of our audience," he said. "From the first read-through, we recognized that we had the makings for a hit show here at Surfside."

Bergeron hopes the play will linger with the audience after the curtain falls.

"'Agnes of God' explores the paper-thin differences in our understanding of faith," he said. "It posits that faith in a belief in god and blind faith in the belief in science, are not as far apart as we may generally believe."

In any case, audiences can look forward to a haunting drama that may spark conversations on the way home.

If you go

'Agnes of God'

Where: Surfside Playhouse, 301 Ramp Road, Cocoa Beach

When: Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through Jan. 21. There will also be a special Saturday matinee on Jan. 20 at 2 p.m.

Tickets: $28

Info: 321-783-3127

On the web: surfsideplayhouse.com

Christina LaFortune is the Entertainment and TGIF Editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Follow her on Facebook at facebook.com/christinalafortune or send her an email at clafortune@floridatoday.com.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: 'Agnes of God' at Surfside Playhouse