This was a history lesson they never taught us in Catholic school. Yes, we were told about the Spanish Inquisition. No, it wasn’t presented as a systematic genocide by the Catholic monarch to rid Spain of 500,000 Jews. Not to save their souls, but because the Jews were growing in number, prosperity and influence. And that made them a real political and economic threat to Ferdinand and Isabella.
Or that 400,000 of them made the excruciating choice to abandon their core identity and convert, rather than be burned. It must have been the most half-hearted mass conversion in theological history.
“Conviction,” with a wonderful double-entendre for its title, is a promising Israeli play that manages to broach this incendiary chapter as a surprisingly entertaining time-traveling mystery wrapped inside a profound love story.
The play, translated and adapted by Boulder’s Ami Dayan, opens in Franco’s 1960s Madrid. A stoic Israeli professor named Chaim Tal (Robert Mason Ham) is being grilled by an inquisitor (what else!), the director of the Spanish National Archives (an excellent Michael Shalhoub).
Tal has been caught stealing a confidential file detailing the true story of a Catholic priest who 500 years before was caught living a double life. Father Andres married a Jewish woman (ironically named Isabel) and sired a family with her, all while carrying on his duties as a priest.
The director can’t figure out why his silent, present-day detainee would commit such a brazen crime, especially when there seems to be no contemporary significance to this dusty old affair.
The answer becomes clear as we shift in time to another inquisition, of sorts. Andres (Dayan) is unloading his secret past to an unseen and unheard fellow priest, within the safety of a Catholic confessional. This theatrical construct allows Dayan to tell him, and us, the full story of how Andres went from man of God to one facing man’s greatest wrath.
Dayan is presenting his still-developing play at Curious Theatre in advance of a New York run in February. It began as a one-man play he developed last year for the Denver Center Theatre Company.
It’s now living somewhere in between a one-man play and the fully interactive, multicharacter story it wants to become. I saw it a year ago as a solo work, and it’s much more dynamic theater now. But its not fully formed yet.
There’s nice symmetry between the contemporary inquisition and the medieval confession. But they play out as, in effect, simultaneous one-man stories. Though Tal remains silent, it’s thrilling to watch the tension between the modern duo. The medieval tale begs for the same. An onstage second priest would allow for a riveting conversation between Andres and a fellow priest who would surely, passionately plead with Andres to renounce his sin, to save his life.
Too much of the play still exists as a monologue for Dayan, whose signature as an actor is ebullient, demonstrative narration that has served him so well in previous solo efforts, such as “A Tale of a Tiger.” There is a childlike whimsy inherent to his performance, and it doesn’t always suit him here. By its sober end, when the play strikes a serious “Crucible” vibe, that keeps Dayan from communicating real, climactic pathos.
Not surprisingly, the best scenes are between Andres and his wife (an underutilized Julie Rada), because who wants to see Romeo without his Juliet? Still, there’s not yet enough establishing passion between them to convince us why Andres was willing to risk so much to be with her.
And at the end, of course, Tal does speak. But if you are going to make a guy keep his mouth shut for 90 minutes, what he finally says better pack more of a wallop than it does now.
The staging, co-directed by Dayan with Jeremy Cole, is in fine shape, especially lights, sound and pace. With more interaction and emotional depth, Dayan will likely meet with an interested and engaged audience next year in New York.
John Moore: 303-954-1056 or jmoore@denverpost.com
“Conviction” *** (out of four stars)
History mystery. Presented by Maya Productions at the Curious Theatre, 1080 Acoma St. Written by Oren Neeman; translated and adapted by Ami Dayan. Starring Dayan, Michael Shalhoub, Robert Mason Ham and Julie Rada. Through July 12. 90 minutes, with no intermission. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. $15-$20. 303-623-0524 or
This weekend’s best bet: “Hamlet”
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The Bard is back: The Colorado Shakespeare Festival opens its 52nd season this weekend with perhaps the most psychologically complex and intensely debated play in literature. It’s the story of the deliberations of the doomed prince who’s compelled to avenge his father’s murder. Stephen Weitz, pictured at right, stars. “Hamlet” will soon be joined in repertory by “Much Ado About Nothing,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “Two Gentlemen of Verona” and “The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged).”Hamlet” is performed outdoors in the Mary Rippon Amphitheatre on the CU-Boulder campus. 8:30 p.m. today; times and dates then vary through Aug. 9. $14-$54, 303-492-0554 or . (Photo by Kira Horvath)
This weekend’s other theater openings
“All Shook Up” More than 20 Elvis hits are used to tell the “Grease”-like story of a small-town girl with big dreams, and the guitar- playing stranger in leather who steals her heart. Through Aug. 22. Rocky Mountain Rep1025 Grand Ave., Grand Lake, 970-627-3421 or
“Bad Dates” A divorced mom who’s determined to fall in love again, is perpetually preparing for her next (bad) encounter with a man. Through Aug. 15. Nonesuch Theatre, 216 Pine St., Fort Collins, 970-224-0444 or
“The Glorious Ones” Based on the novel by Francine Prose, this backstage musical, by the team that wrote “Ragtime,” is about the lives, loves and ambitions of a 16th-century commedia dell arte troupe in Italy during the late Renaissance. Through Aug. 22. Lake Dillon Theatre, 176 Lake Dillon Drive, Dillon, 970-513-9386 or
“A Grand Night for Singing” Tony Award-nominated musical revue is an evening of songs by Rodgers and Hammerstein, from shows including “Oklahoma,” “The King and I,” “The Sound of Music” and more. Through Aug. 13. Thursdays only. Presented by Lake Dillon Theatre at The Pavilion in Keystone, 970-513-9386 or
“The Sunshine Boys” Classic comedy about an aging vaudeville duo who agree to reunite for a TV special, but it turns out they can’t stand each other. Stars real-life brothers Dan and Tom McNally, and directed by Anthony Powell. Through Sunday, July 5. Little Theatre of the Rockies at the Langworthy Theatre, 10th Avenue and 18th Street, Greeley, 970-351-2200 or
Complete theater listings
Go to our complete list of in Colorado, including summaries, run dates, addresses, phones and links to every company’s home page. Or check out our listings or
Coming up: Forever—and ever—plaid
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Thursday, July 9: Since 1990, the retro musical “Forever Plaid” has had more than 400 stagings in Colorado alone. At 6 p.m. Thursday, July, 9 the “Forever Plaid 20th Anniversary Special” will debut as a national simulcast on movie screens across the U.S., including 10 in Denver. The debut screening includes members of the original cast live via simulcast, introducing the film and a singing a few live numbers never before staged in the play. The local host theaters are: Denver Pavilions, the Belmar 16 and Colorado Mills in Lakewood, Kerasotes Southlands in Aurora, the AMC Highlands Ranch, Greenwood Plaza in Englewood, the Kerasotes Castle Rock Stadium, Cinemark Century in Boulder, Cinemark Greeley Mall and Cinemark Fort Collins. Tickets $18. Go to for info. John Moore
Video podcast: Running Lines at the Henry Awards
In this week’s video podcast, John Moore offers interviews and excerpts from the 2009 Henry Awards. Random spectators are asked to describe the Henry Awards … in one word.
Henry Awards : Photos from the ceremony
2009 Colorado Theatre Guild Henry Awards: The ceremony. Photos by Brian Landis Folkins and John Moore.
Henry Awards: More photos, more videos, analysis
Much more on the biggest night of the year in Colorado theater:
The Running Lines blog
Catch up on John Moore’s roundup of theater news and dialogue. This week, the talk’s all about the Henry Awards:
