Angel Reapers

Angel Reapers is playing at the Signature Theatre located at 480 West 42nd Street. It runs one hour ten minutes with no intermission. The musical closes on March 13, 2016.

Alfred Uhry and Martha Clarke are the playwrights. Alfred won a Tony Award in 1998 for Best Book of a Musical for Parade and The Last Night of Ballywood in 1996 for Best Play. He won a Pulitzer Prize for Driving Miss Daisy in 1987. In 1989 he won an Academy Award for Best Screen Adaptation of Driving Miss Daisy.

The story is about the Shakers. It was founded by Ann Lee. She denounced all sexual activities as the root of all sin. She immigrated with her followers to the United States in 1774. They settle in Niskeyuna (now Watervilet, New York).

Ann Lee (Sally Murphy) along with her brother William Lee (Nicholas Bruder) guide the followers in prayer and other matters. There are nine other followers.

During the show they sing traditional Shaker spiritual songs. Their dance is modern. The story is based on each member telling about themselves or events in their life.

Unless you read the information that was on the wall before you entered the theatre about the Shakers you will be at a lost as to what is happening.

Yon Tande as Brother Moses has one scene in which he does a great job dancing.

This is not your typical show. I don’t know if it would appeal to everyone. Not about the story but the way it was presented.

Review by Rozanna Radakovich.

Photos by Annazor.

To read a candid interview with the cast, scroll down to the left for recent photos. Click on recent phots for this and other shows.