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

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

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

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

Aa too wordy but an interesting historical look at the foundations of Christianity.... 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

Thought-provoking, this play of biblical hermeneutics leaves you much to ponder on, Writer Trica Aurand takes you on an intimate and political journey in the life of these men as these seek to craft the future of Christianity and its ability to influence its followers. This philosophical experience left me digesting upon it for days to come. ... full review

I saw this play almost a week ago and haven't stopped thinking about it since. The writing is phenomenal, smart and tense. Kind of like game of thrones meets house of cards with a little bit of 12 angry men. The cast is phenomenal. Especially Meletius, but honestly, no weak members here. And what makes them so great is their ability to spout off dense paragraphs of theology in a way that sounds spontaneous and personal. These characters are smart people, and largely, godless people. Which is why this whole set up is so haunting. There is only one woman in the cast, and she spends most of her time validating and caring for the men. They, meanwhile, argue passionately about which pieces of theology should be cemented into Christianity's or... full review