Lanes Coven Theatre Company "Church": A Euphoric Production

Always believe in yourself.

Lanes Coven Theatre Company presents “Church,” a play by Young Jean Lee. Based on Lee’s own struggle with Christianity, the play welcomes audiences to a church service, testing expectations of religious and non-religious ideas.

“Church” was a euphoric experience. Theater is all about surprises. It’s also a way of experimentation. Lanes Coven’s production of “Church” is a bold communal experience that shares ideas on belief, doubt, and the nature of theater.

Alex Highsmith (Reverend Alex), Lily Narbonne (Reverend Lily), Cheryl D. Singleton (Reverend Jose), and Hannah Young (Reverend Hannah) star in the show. These four women each have powerful voices, enacting deep sermons and reflections rooted to spirituality. They make everyone feel welcome right at the start as they great audience members.

Their speeches echo familiar sermons, but as the performance unfolds, each monologue begins to peel back layers, exposing vulnerability and uncertainty. Singleton has a commanding presence and lovely speaking voice.

This show connects with audiences on an emotional level. We’re all human. We have made mistakes. Reverend Lily and Reverend Hannah express dark demons, but explain how they should not be defined by their past. Reverend Alex has excellent energy, both in voice and movement, reciting deep monologues.

What makes “Church” so compelling is not just the individual performances, but the way these voices intersect. Every voice in the show is rooted in power, capturing attention. Though the actors rarely engage in traditional dialogue, their monologues feel in conversation with one another.

The show is directed by Justin Genna, who performed in his own version of “Church” in 2016 on the Geary Theater rooftop in San Fransisco. As Lanes Coven hits its sixth anniversary, Genna said it was time to experiment. He said they decided to focus on form for this season.

“What forms can theater take beyond the familiar - audience sits, watches story, laughs, cries, goes home?” Genna said.

With “Church,” Genna said that the show embraces new boundaries that challenges audiences to consider faith through the lens of theater. It’s amazing what you can do with theater.

Genna’s staging makes audiences become part of the experience. I like when performers include audiences. We are essential to the story’s progression.

The show challenges audiences to consider what faith means on personal levels, regardless of their religious beliefs. My background in religion is minimal, and I felt a humbling experience while attending the show. It made me euphoric, thinking about myself and putting the stresses of the world aside.

Ultimately, “Church” is about possibility. It asks what theater can be, what faith can look like, and how we connect with one another in shared spaces. That was playwright Young Jean Lee’s main intent when she wrote the script. To examine the nature of faith.

The show concludes with an epic concert. Band members include the talents of Brian King (vocals), Billy Lewand (Guitarist), and Nick Avery-Principi (Drums). The vocals and sound echoed beautifully in the upstairs of the American Legion.

It becomes a full on dance party with the actresses dancing around in energetic styles, and invited some audiences members to dance with them. Audience reaction is my favorite part of any theater experience, and this one, I will treasure. Everyone exuberantly clapped along and applauding.

Before you know it, the show is over. “Church” is a unique show that audiences should read more about. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but you never know what you’ll learn. That’s why we experiment.

Lanes Coven’s “Church” plays at the American Region in Gloucester until May 10. It’s ninety minutes. Tickets are available online: https://www.lanescoven.org/