The title of Edward Allan Baker's two one-act plays, ACTS OF
PROVIDENCE, has multiple meanings. In both works,
emotionally-wounded people assume personas to protect themselves
from pain and to hide or ignore their emotions. And in both works,
divine guidance and intervention puts them on the path toward
healing. Naturally both are set in Providence, Rhode Island.
In "Jane's Exchange" nothing is as it seems, and after several twists
and turns and a great deal of yelling, it suddenly is. Mel (Amorika
Amoroso), Nick (Joe Capozzi), and Jane (Julie Karlin) form an
uneasy alliance to operate a bakery. It takes a seemingly air head's
(Tonya Cornelisse) appearance to solidify roles, explore emotions,
and define the course of future events. This is a nice appetizer for the
stronger of the two plays, "North of Providence." In this powerful
piece a brother (Mark Belasco) and sister (Judy Del Giudice) are
brought together by the imminent death of their father. Both harbor the
pain of a shared troubled childhood and the secrets of a violent act.
Belasco, who brings slovenliness to an art form, and the amazingly
natural Del Giudice are sublime as they play off one another, poking
and prodding and pushing those old familiar family buttons.
"Jane's Exchange" ends with a sigh; "North of Providence" with
a gasp. Both ACTS OF PROVIDENCE are fine theatre, and their
characters will remain with you on the way home.