Cult of Love 

Reviewed by Dana Martin 
IAMA Theatre Company at Atwater Village Theatre 
Through June 24th 

RECOMMENDED 

It’s Christmas at the Dahl’s house and proud hearts will not go unpunished. IAMA Theatre Company’s stellar, anxiety-inducing Cult of Love explores the insidious nature of Christian family cruelty — the audacity of self-righteousness and the dangers of willful ignorance born of rigid religious belief. Jesus H. Christ, what a production.

Bill (Tom Amandes) and Ginny (Keliher Walsh) Dahl have given their four children a fine Christian upbringing. The siblings, now adults with spouses and families of their own, begrudgingly return to their childhood home for the Dahl family Christmas, a sacred (and mandatory) event. Oldest son Mark (John Lavelle) and his wife Rachel (Laila Ayad) maintain a distant relationship with the family after choosing to leave the church. Evie (Melissa Stephens) has brought her new wife, Pippa (Tina Huang) home to meet the family; her homosexuality is a clear source of contention. Johnny (Christian Durso), a recovering heroin addict, is treated as an outsider. The Dahl’s youngest daughter Diana (Christine Woods) remains a devoted Christian. She and her husband James (Graham Sibley) happily receive the spoils of their parents’ affection, warmth and protection. Soon, it becomes clear that Diana is severely mentally ill, and though she’s a danger to herself, her infant son and her unborn child, her husband and parents obtusely choose to believe that she’s channeling the Almighty. The lengths that the religious members of her family go to excuse her alarming behavior is disturbing and maddening.

The performances are brutal and honest, and the actors work with a sense of ease. There are multiple conversations which occur simultaneously throughout that the ensemble treats as musical composition. Further, many of the actors play instruments and everyone sings — with passion, heart and plenty of love. Tom Anamdes is affable and non-confrontational as family patriarch Bill. Keliher Walsh’s Ginny goes to desperate lengths to keep up appearances. Melissa Stephens is a breath of fresh air and a steady voice of reason as Evie. John Lavelle’s Mark finds deep vulnerability as he grapples with his family’s rejection and shame. Laila Ayad navigates powerlessness and frustration as Rachel, Mark’s fed-up wife. Christian Durso finds a simplicity of faith as troubled, lovable Johnny. Graham Sibley is surprisingly sympathetic as the disillusioned, ousted priest James. Christine Woods’ powerful performance as the deeply disturbed Diana is heartbreaking and wonderful.

Director Annie Tippe guides the play’s action with precision and compassion, nailing its unique tone and tempo, and creating an environment in which the characters flourish; she gives them plenty of permission to fall apart. Music direction by Anthony Lucca is clean and precise with a fittingly earthy quality. Set designer Jeff McLaughlin transports the audience to Christian suburbia in the height of holiday season. The presence of the Christmas tree and the carefully, lovingly-placed decor heightens the drama in a subtly powerful way. Costume designer Melissa Trn uses subtle detail to reveal the characters’ personalities. Lighting co-designed by Josh Epstein and Ginerva Lombardo is effective and efficient.

The play itself echoes Tracy Letts’ August: Osage County in its examination of a dysfunctional family in distress, resentfully gathering under one roof. But playwright Leslye Headland’s writing is fiercely her own, and she dissects the aftermath of staunch religious upbringing with courage and clarity. She writes from a deep understanding of the subject matter. Cult of Love is Headland’s seventh and final installment of a play series focusing on the seven deadly sins that has spanned a decade.

Exactly what is acceptable to excuse, ignore and forgive in the name of love? The Dahls are a proudly loving yet deeply dysfunctional family unit. The story dares to examine the perils of ignorance and the destructive nature of intolerance within the family unit, yet still manages to find tenderness and humor interspersed throughout. Cult of Love is a powerful, painful and exciting evening of theatre and IAMA can rightfully be proud, though cautiously. Cult of Love suggests that pride is the deadliest of sins, particularly when it is disguised as righteousness.

Atwater Village Theatre, 3269 Casitas Ave., Atwater Village; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m.; through June 24th. (323) 380-8843(323) 380-8843 or iamatheatre.com. Running time: 90 minutes with no intermission.