As It Is In Heaven
by Arlene Hutton

Name: As It Is In Heaven
Brand: Arlene Hutton
SKU: 9780822218609
Rating: 3.25 (35 reviews)

As It Is In Heaven Book Cover — As It Is In Heaven Cover

Highlights

Medium Cast

Female

90 mins 19th Century All Women Room for Extras Bare Stage/Simple Set Period Costumes American

Synopsis

THE STORY: A religious community is changed when a non-believer has an ecstatic experience.

The 1830's Shaker society of Pleasant Hill, Kentucky, is set in ordered ways.

Their once dramatic form of worship has by now developed into routine.

The arr

Press Reviews

"A moving portrayal of upheaval caused when the utopian existence of an 1830's Shaker community in Kentucky is threatened by the arrival of ‘newcomers‘ claiming to see angels. Powerful and insightful… a thought-provoking piece, the message being that often we need not look as far as heaven to see angels here on earth.” – Herald “Hutton, who is best known for her charming Last Train to Nibroc, once again looks into a slice of Americana and a time when things seemingly were simpler while showing that even a ‘utopian‘ existence such as the Shakers' was not without complications. Hutton asks some universal questions about the nature of community and belief that are timeless and also prove to be good fodder for storytelling on stage. As It is in Heaven contains a story that deserves to be told."
— American Theatre

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Hannah An eldress. Tries to be merciful and kind.	—	—	An eldress. Tries to be merciful and kind.
Phebe A deaconess. Seeks righteousness.	—	—	A deaconess. Seeks righteousness.
Betsy A deaconess. The peacemaker, but also a gossip.	—	—	A deaconess. The peacemaker, but also a gossip.
Rachel A longtime Shaker. Pure in heart.	—	—	A longtime Shaker. Pure in heart.
Izzy The youngest. Raised with Shakers. Persecuted for righteousness sake.	—	—	The youngest. Raised with Shakers. Persecuted for righteousness sake.
Fanny A newcomer. Independent. Accused falsely.	—	—	A newcomer. Independent. Accused falsely.
Polly A newcomer. Poor in spirit, needy, bitter.	—	—	A newcomer. Poor in spirit, needy, bitter.
Jane Mournful, sad.	—	—	Mournful, sad.
Peggy The cook. Meek, quiet and trustful, easily hurt.	—	—	The cook. Meek, quiet and trustful, easily hurt.