Review: AGNES at 59E59 Theaters is an Excellent Story About Human Connections

The NYC premiere of Agnes, written by Catya McMullen and directed by Jenna Worsham is being performed at 59E59 Theaters through September 29. This is a story about roommates, millenials that have known each other since their high school days. It is a riveting portrayal of five individuals with with very different personalities and how they deal with their interactions and commitments. Performed in the theater's intimate space, Agnes has just the right balance of drama and humor.

Set in an urban apartment, it's a stormy night. Charlie, a young man with Aspergers Syndrome, returns home after one of his mysterious trips. His protective sister, June is very concerned about him but she also must deal with her own issues including a shaky relationship with her partner, Elle. Things become tense when one of the roommates, Ronan invites an old friend Anna to "crash" with the group for a while. Anna's presence adds complexity to the scene as Charlie is attracted to Anna and June once had an affair with her. While the show is a fascinating depiction of relationships, it also reveals a lot about Aspergers Syndrome and how people strive to make connections.

The cast features John Edgar Barker as Charlie; Hiram Delgado as Ronan; Mykal Monroe as Elle; Laura Ramadei as June; and Claire Siebers as Anna. This accomplished troupe of actors is ideal together. The portrayal of their characters is real and relatable. You will feel like you are right in an apartment with them as they grapple with issues and desires. Scenes that include Anna's unexpected appearance, Ronan calling his ex-girlfriend, Elle and June trying to work things out, and June showing an abiding affection for her brother Charlie are just some of the memorable moments.

The creative team has done a great job of transforming the stage for Agnes. They include sound design by Daniel Melnick; lighting design by Cheyenne Sykes; costume design by Nicole Slaven; scenic design by Angelica Borrero. The Production Manager is Sean Gorski; Assistant to the Director is Keith Weiss; Co-Production Manager is Katherine Dumais; Props Supervisor is Carrrie Mossman; and Fight Director is Alex Gould.

See Agnes, a very entertaining show that has significant messaging. Produced by Lesser America, in association with Hugh Hayes, the production will certainly raise your empathy and understanding for people on the Autism spectrum.

The run time of Agnes is 100 minutes with no intermission. It will be performed for a limited engagement through Saturday, September 29. The show runs for 90 minutes with no intermission. The schedule is Tuesday - Friday at 7:30 PM; Saturday at 2:30 PM and 7:30 PM. Note the following schedule change: the matinee performance on Saturday, September 15 is a relaxed performance and will begin at 3:00 PM. Single tickets are $25 ($20 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at 212.279.4200 and visit http://www.59e59.org/,

Photo Credit: Hunter Canning @huntercanning

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