Agnes of God

KILKENNY'S well established Barnstorm theatre company was launched over three years ago with a production of John Pielmeier's…

KILKENNY'S well established Barnstorm theatre company was launched over three years ago with a production of John Pielmeier's Agnes of God, which they are now reviving.

The author places three characters in a situation of crime, dilemma and personal conflict Agnes, a young nun who has murdered her baby a court appointed psychiatrist and the reverend mother running the convent. Whodunit yields to how did it happen and who was responsible. The plot is less than persuasive, but the characters develop a life of their own. Olivia Shanley's crusty head nun and Ber O'Hara's chain smoking medico make for convincing antagonists, but Helen Walsh, as Agnes, steals and saves the play in a luminous portrayal.