Annette Saunders stars in “The Amish Project” runs through Nov. 3 at Warehouse PAC in Cornelius.

By CONNIE FISHER

The Warehouse Performing Arts Center presents an extraordinary theatrical experience with its current production, “The Amish Project.” The intensity of the story converges with an unusual character portrayal through the combined forces of superb acting, direction, lighting, sound and set design staged on the limited confines of black box theatre.

Everyday life among the Amish might seem somewhat removed compared to ordinary lifestyles in other communities around the nation. Yet, the storyline of this play, written by Jessica Dickey, has everything to do with affairs and incidents that affect daily life everywhere. With a twist.

“The Amish Project” isn’t focused only on a crime. The arousing story introduces a dilemma far more intense. Forgiveness. Is it possible to practice Christianity, or any other religion, so unbendingly—truthfully?

In Jessica Dickey’s play, it takes only one actor to hold the audience in rapt attention. At The Warehouse the actor is Annette Saunders. She unveils the drama of a horrific fictional incident from the point of view of seven different accounts—the victims, the perpetrator, a loved one, an historian and a couple of incidental observers.

For more than an hour, Annette Saunders skillfully unfolds the emotions of the seven characters simultaneously without hesitating. An enraptured audience barely dares to breathe. Sometimes she delivers only a line or two before becoming another character. Saunders handles the distinction with skill. Credit for the perfection of such smooth transitions also goes to “The Amish Project’s” director, Divina Cook. What a pair they make—actor and director. Saunders and Cook have done it before, a collaboration last seen in “Frozen,” also at The Warehouse.

A number of other resources support Annette Saunders’ well-honed talent enabling her to make the transitions with absolute grace. John Hartness’s lighting is a masterful stroke of genius that enhances the emotions in the developing drama. Bang. The noiseless sound of a red-hot flash. Kudos goes to tech operator Katherine Fortner for effective timing on cue. She also doubles as the powerful drama’s stage manager.

Lory Butters’ costume design is perfect—her creation enables the actor to live the story. Divina Cook’s inspired direction can be detected by the sensitivity evoked in each character, including the accurate enunciation of Puerto Rican Spanish. Divina and her husband Don Cook designed a simple set that compliments the personality of each character without distraction.

“The Amish Project’s” storyline is not for the fainthearted, but then, neither are today’s awful headlines. What really is at stake is a pathos introduced more than 2,000 years ago. Aroused, the audience is reluctant to intrude with the sound of applause when “The Amish Project” comes to an end.

WANT TO GO?

“The Amish Project” runs through Nov. 3 at The Warehouse Performing Arts Center, 9216-A Westmorland Road, Cornelius. Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8pm. Curtain time on Sunday is 2pm. For reservation and tickets call the box office at 704-619-0429 or on line at WarehousePAC.com.