"A Walless Church" at Pillsbury House + Theatre

Certain religious traditions say that humans were created in god's image, but I've also heard it said that humans created god in their image. Which is often not a good thing. But this is a good thing: in Pillsbury House + Theatre's production of the world premiere new play A Walless Church (walless = wall-less = without walls), three Black women, "godlings," show us how to create god in just about 70 minutes (and they're not happy about the time constraint). You need a big emotion, a common intention, and a conduit (although this one isn't absolutely necessary). But they need our help. Join in this loving, playful, heart-warming ritual of a play happening four to five times a week through October 13 at Pillsbury House in South Minneapolis.

Nubia Monks, Essence Renae, and Aimee K. Bryant
(photo by Bruce Silcox)

Entering the theater about ten minutes prior to showtime, the powerhouse three-person cast (Aimee K. Bryant, Nubia Monks, and Essence Renae) is already on stage. The stage in this case being a raised circular platform covered in brown shag carpet, surrounded by a curtain of thin clear filaments like a veil. We watch the three women as they center themselves, arrange their head wraps, and check out each other's work. Then the ritual begins. Playwright AriDy Nox has written the piece in a playful fourth-wall breaking way, cleverly switching back and forth between the three godlings talking to us, and scenes of three different groups of Black women - two sisters and the spirit of their mother, three friends at a wedding shower, and two newlyweds with a disapproving aunt. The godlings step into and out of the scenes, trying to get it right, but human relationships are messy and things get complicated. That's where they ask for our help (in an easy non-threatening way).

Aimee K. Bryant, Nubia Monks, and Essence Renae
(photo by Bruce Silcox)

These three women are a joy to watch, individually and in differing relationships with each other. Of note: two have them have played Celie in The Color Purple, and the godlings are wearing what could be called "Miss Celie's Pants" - loose flowy colorful pants paired with unique tops. Each godling takes a turn leading a scene, with a different specific gesture to change worlds, discussing amongst themselves what is needed to accomplish their goal. Director Signe V. Harriday makes these transitions clear and easy to follow, with the help of the lighting design that changes from realistic to a more dreamy quality. There are three pieces of furniture around the circle, each with a unique light fixture that turns on when we enter the scene. Towards the end of the play, after we remove the walls, the three scenes/relationships merge together, and we see the connectedness between them. (Scenic design by William Boles, costume design by Zamora Simmons-Stiles, lighting design by Kathy Maxwell, sound design by Queen Drea.)

Seeing a show at Pillsbury House + Theatre is always about more than just theater (if you're curious about the + in their name, listen to our interview with Signe V. Harriday, Senior Artistic Producing Director, along with Suzy Messerole, Co-Artistic Director of Exposed Brick Theatre, at the time their co-production of Passage last year). Don't get me wrong, they make great theater that's entertaining and engaging and thoughtfully designed, but there's something deeper. This piece feels light and happy and healing, a communal experience toward greater understanding of what it is to be human, a full and rich experience despite the relative short runtime. 

I'll leave you with a few words from the director:

This play speaks to the very reasons why I make theatre. In A Walless Church, Nox’s godlings have heard the longings of Black women who deeply want to see god and return to a knowing of the god within. Their rituals invite us into contemplation about how we navigate healing in our relationships when hurt, pain, and misunderstanding drive us apart. Part recipe making, part experimentation, part discovery – A Walless Church evokes transformation and the spirit of healing.