Nicaea

Nicaea works small wonders. The plot and characters and concepts build upon one another, slowly and methodically, until you're left with the impression of having eaten a fulfilling, delicious meal without completely comprehending how or when it was served. I highly recommend! Make sure to catch this sophisticated, thoughtful gem!... full review

Theatrical Brainfood with depth, breadth and commitment! A 4th-century political thriller, Nicaea is a bold & plentiful offering, refreshing for the Fringe in the way that it takes you deeply into the world of serious drama whilst maintaining a lightness of touch. The ensemble works well together and the play keeps a good pace. Nicaea has hints of Greek drama and Socratic dialogues, whilst keeping the action moving. Tricia Aurand's writing takes you deep into the arguments around the nature of God, as discussed by the early Church fathers, as she questions the Hebrew names of the Divine, "Adonai & Elohim are plural, El is singular...[why?]" - in doing so she frames the conversation of the play in the context caused rifts in the early Chu... full review

Nicaea holds nothing back as a religion-infused political thriller. You'd think a bunch of people debating religion could get monotonous, but new thoughts and ideas constantly spring up that make you question even your own beliefs. There was always a danger in the air, which is exactly how it must have felt at that time. Every actor inhabits their role naturally, and everyone truly believes what they're saying. It's what makes the arguments so compelling. It's especially relevant these days, check it out.... full review

This show actually reminded me of "Game of Thrones" for the fact that everyone desired the power to have their very justifiable perspective on what the scriptures should be about, considered THE truth. The ending was haunting, (I wish I had taken a picture). The writing was beautifully Shakespearen but easy to follow with the great relationships the actors played. The sly, cool/conniving"Iago"style of "Athanasius"( Played by Brendan Haley) was mesmerizing. I want to write about each and every actor! But I'll just say, they were an absolutely talented cast! Tricia Aurand has created a very amazing and meaningful piece that I want to pick her brain about. ... full review

Fringe is a festival for the Ambitious, and the Over-Ambitious, and this year NICAEA tackles the 325AD conference of 300 clerics that tackled the codification of Christian orthodoxy at the behest of Constantine (who never appears). The problem is that 80 minutes is not even enough time to properly introduce the 6 characters (who represent 300) let alone grapple with the single issue (of many) which propels this story---with which very, very few people are at all familiar! Twice the length might have made it explicable---with a cast with the gravitas to match these influential characters. (The use of a contemporary child, Kelton Lin, is inexplicable.) Morris Schorr has the advantage of age to aid his characterization, and Anthony Backman ... full review

To put it briefly, Nicaea is 12 Angry Men: The Bible Edition-- you get to hear elegant arguments for and against certain interpretations of scripture passionately argued by actors who seem to deeply care about what they're saying. (This is actually a big deal, because too often when I see shows that get heady or have elevated speech, it seems like the actor is just a word machine that doesn't have a clue what they're speaking, but I felt totally convinced that everyone both knew and truly cared about their individual arguments, which was impressive and made for an excellent ensemble piece.) The play centers around these debates that resulted in the Nicean Creed, and what historically took place to solidify early Christian belief. While it sh... full review

Very important ideas and a great telling of how organized religion has been arguing since it began. It is something that still holds true for today. I saw a preview and the scene changes need to be worked on so hopefully they will be fixed by opening night. Kelton Lin opening the show is delightful. Give that kid one of the podiums. Fun to watch.... full review

Nicaea is an intriguing look into the formation of the Christian doctrine. Performances are strong across the board and writer/director Tricia Aurand does an excellent job imbuing these characters with depth and emotion. Memorable and haunting.... full review

I enjoyed seeing how the play unfolded, and how religious views were debated. The strong choices of the character were enlightening and pulled me right into the story. ... full review

I'm a working pastor with a special place in my heart for art like this. Nicaea is theologically transgressive in the best kind of way. Much like other works that fit this bill--Aronofsky's Noah, Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ, or Jim Crace's Quarantine--Aurand's Nicaea plugs into a foundational controversy we religious types think we understand, unspools just enough fiction to wire in the uninitiated, puts an uninsulated cable in our hands and turns on the power. I left the theater in a daze, unsure if what I'd just been caught up in was a desecrating sacrilege or a call to revival. You will miss The Fringe this year if you miss Nicaea. This is art that believes in something--or, at least, that is reaching for something to beli... full review