Theater Preview: The Busy World Is Hushed

by | Mar 7, 2013 | ART

The Busy World is Hushed, Richmond Triangle Players’ second addition to to the Acts of Faith Festival, premiered February 27th. This will be their second week of the run, and the reception has been wonderful.


The Busy World is Hushed, Richmond Triangle Players’ second addition to to the Acts of Faith Festival, premiered February 27th. This will be their second week of the run, and the reception has been wonderful.

With great wit, insight, and humor, The Busy World is Hushed examines the contradictions we all find in our faith, our family, and our ourselves. The story follows Hannah, a widowed Episcopal minister, who is trying to translate a long-lost gospel. She is challenged both by her adjutant and her wayward gay son. But when family secrets surface, only the help of a stranger can help Hannah find peace.

The Busy World is about faith and family, making connections,” said Phil Crosby, Managing Director of the RTP. “[It’s about] a mother trying to connect with her son, a son trying to connect with his dead father, a young man trying to find a home in his relationship with the son. Real sort of basic important stuff.”

The show consists of local Richmond known stars; Chris Hester, who most recently played the title role in The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Firehouse last summer; as well as Chis Oneil, who was nominated for Richmond Theater Critic Award as Best Actor last year for RTP’s production of Next Fall. Additionally, Linda Barenger, who was trained in England and has done several plays around Richmond, plays the role of Hannah.

Crosby thinks the well balanced trio are what makes the show so moving. “[They] bring such warmth, realism and love to these characters that the audience can’t help but be moved.”

The play will have you thinking by the end, and Crosby promises its subject matter will appeal to all audiences. “I don’t think there is a piece of it [that] someone can’t relate to… The fact that the love interest in it is a gay relationship… it doesn’t mean that if you are straight you won’t get it. You will get it, we’ve all been there.”

Crosby suggests taking a date, because the play reminds you why we all want to be in love. So come on down to Richmond Triangle Players’ theater at 1300 Altamont Avenue and fall in love.

The Busy World is Hushed runs through March 23. Tickets can be purchased here.

By Brian Charlton/originally appeared at gayrva.com

Marilyn Drew Necci

Marilyn Drew Necci

Former GayRVA editor-in-chief, RVA Magazine editor for print and web. Anxiety expert, proud trans woman, happily married.




more in art

Before Anyone Was Watching

I went to Virginia MOCA expecting to hear Andy Howell talk about skateboarding. Instead, I left thinking about community and how people find each other. Howell's installation opens Seamless, the museum's new exhibition exploring the overlap between art and design. At...

The Strange Afterlife of Virginia’s President Heads

Editor's Note: Reminder, the sculptures are located on private property and are not open for general visitation. Access is available only through scheduled guided tours, with Labor Day weekend currently expected to be the final tour on the calendar. Tour information...

Review | ‘As You Like It’ is Just How I Like It

If you’ve been reading these reviews for a while, you’ll notice I love me some context. Especially surrounding William Shakespeare’s plays. One of my favorite things about the existence of Richmond Shakespeare is that they’ve forced me to go back to the English Lit...

IllumiNATION Tells America’s Story on a Monumental Scale

Editor’s Note: RVA Magazine is partnering with the Virginia Museum of History & Culture on coverage related to America’s 250th anniversary, including Richmond SailFest and IllumiNation. It's hard to impress people with just a building. Yet standing in front of the...

Blöthar: “GWAR Didn’t Change. The World Freakin Changed.”

Richmond metal band GWAR says the Secret Service contacted the group following a recent performance at the Vans Warped Tour in Washington, D.C., that featured the mock execution of a Donald Trump effigy. Video of the performance, which showed band members...

Review | ‘Come From Away’ is the Best We’ve Ever Been

Do you remember the rollerblading guy with the American flag kit on September 12th? We will never forget the 11th for the horrors, but do you remember the 12th? The 13th? If you do, I don’t even have to say which year. If you don’t, let me tell you a little bit about...

Topics: