Savannah Disputation, Smith's Comedy About Absolute Religion, Opens at Old Globe Oct. 1

By Kenneth Jones
01 Oct 2009

Savannah Disputation stars Mikel Sarah Lambert and Kimberly Parker Green
Savannah Disputation stars Mikel Sarah Lambert and Kimberly Parker Green
Photo by Craig Schwartz

Evan Smith's The Savannah Disputation, a comedy about faith, religion, Biblical interpretation and intolerance, opens Oct. 1 in its West Coast premiere at The Old Globe in San Diego.

Nancy Robinette and Mikel Sarah Lambert play Roman Catholic sisters confronted by a Pentacostal missionary played by Kimberly Parker Green. James Sutorius plays Father Murphy, the sisters' priest, who is invited to a meal to help discredit their fundamentalist visitor.

The production, directed by Kim Rubinstein, plays the San Diego Museum of Art's James S. Copley Auditorium through Nov. 1.

Previously seen Off-Broadway, the play, in this new production, began Sept. 26.

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According to Old Globe, "The Savannah Disputation is a contemporary comedy about two Catholic spinsters: the good-natured, sometimes susceptible Margaret and the no-nonsense, always spirited Mary. When Margaret welcomes a door-to-door Pentecostal missionary into their home her conviction begins to waver. Mary quickly hatches a plan to bring her sister back into the fold by inviting their unsuspecting parish priest to dinner, leading to a theological showdown about the true meaning of faith."

Smith's The Savannah Disputation enjoyed a successful run at New York's Playwrights Horizons, as did his previous plays, Psych and The Uneasy Chair. His other works include Servicemen and Daughters of Genius. His TV pilot, "Debs," was a part of Naked TV, produced by Fox TV/Naked Angels. Smith is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama and the recipient of a Whiting Award.

The creative team includes Deb O (scenic design), Judith Dolan (costume design), Alan Burrett (lighting design), Paul Peterson (sound design) and Anjee Nero (stage manager).

Green previously appeared at the Globe in All's Well That Ends Well, Romeo & Juliet, Measure for Measure and The Two Gentlemen of Verona and received her MFA from The Old Globe/University of San Diego. Robinette (Mary) is making her Globe debut. Her Off-Broadway credits include Trestle at Pope Lick Creek, Give Me Your Answer Do! and Finally Flannery. Lambert (Margaret) appeared at the Globe in 2007 as Clara in Noel Coward's Hay Fever. Sutorius has been seen at the Globe in The Price, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (2007 Best Actor, San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Craig Noel Award) and Lincolnesque (2006 Best Featured Actor, San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Craig Noel Award). On Broadway, he has appeared in The Farnsworth Invention, Conversations with My Father, The Changing Room, Hamlet and The Cherry Orchard.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the box office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.