CYNICAL WEATHERS | VICTORY GARDENS THEATER
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Honest acting by Amandes and his fellow cast members is crucial to the success of Cynical Weathers, which could easily be undermined by histrionics: it tackles the daunting, divisive issue of the role of faith in modern American politics. Amandes plays Congressman Dixon McDaniels, a maverick moderate Republican from Corpus Christi, Texas. His wife, Cat, is a scientist and self-described born-again agnostic who’s just returned from studying the effects of global warming on the Arctic. Dixon and his staff–policy director Manny Hernandez, a lapsed Catholic, and Jewish speechwriter Lee Gelman–are preparing an energy bill that will put Dixon at odds with the oil industry, not to mention key colleagues in Congress.
The tug-of-war between Cat and Andrea for Dixon’s allegiance takes on greater urgency when news arrives that a potentially catastrophic hurricane is sweeping in from the Gulf of Mexico. The storm both threatens to destroy Dixon’s sprawling estate and exacerbates Cat, Manny, and Lee’s growing anger and disillusionment as Dixon comes to embrace Andrea’s brand of Christianity. Dixon himself is troubled by the questions his emerging spirituality raises. Should he use his political prominence to promote his faith or cut short his career and devote himself to a religious calling? If he sticks with politics, how should religion shape his agenda? Can a politician be guided by his Christian beliefs while respecting–and protecting–the rights of those who don’t share them?
Art accompanying story in printed newspaper (not available in this archive): photos/Liz Lauren.
