May 2 through 18—WEST RUTLAND— Theater in the Woods Vermont returns this spring with a powerful new production of “Faith Healer” by acclaimed Irish playwright Brian Friel, opening May 2 at the West Rutland Town Hall Theater. Directed by Meg Bouchard, the production runs two weekends with evening shows on May 2, 3, 16, and 17 at 7 p.m., and matinees on May 4 and 18 at 3 p.m.
Named one of the “40 best plays of our time,” “Faith Healer” showcases Friel’s signature lyrical language and emotional complexity. The play unfolds through four interwoven monologues delivered by three characters—faith healer Frank Hardy, his wife, Grace, and his manager, Teddy. Each tells a version of the same story but with starkly different perspectives that challenge the audience to consider the elusive nature of truth.
Director Meg Bouchard, who previously led the company’s 2023 production of Friel’s “Dancing at Lughnasa,” was drawn to the script’s exploration of illusion, memory, and personal identity. “This is a detective story where we do not know what actually happened. And we never will,” Bouchard said. “Lying is part of the culture. Frank does not live in reality. Grace can’t. Teddy seems most reliable, but is he really?”
At its heart, “Faith Healer” examines how individuals lose themselves in their vocations, sometimes to the detriment of their relationships and their humanity. “I so desperately want Frank to be a villain, and yet he is a part of me—of all of us, if we’re brave enough to look,” Bouchard added. “Faith Healer” invites us to look and impels us to not look away.”
Friel’s writing is infused with humor, empathy, and poetic grace, creating a space where audiences can reflect on the contradictions and complexities of being human. The play challenges viewers to consider how we interpret our own lives and the stories we tell ourselves and others.
Tickets are $30 for adults and $25 for seniors and students. Proceeds from the production benefit Theater in the Woods’ summer theater camps for children, held June 23 to Aug. 2 in Tinmouth, offering youth the opportunity to experience the transformative magic of theater in nature.
“Faith Healer” is made possible by sponsors O’Brien, Shortle, Reynolds, and Sabotka PC; Querrey Industrial Services Inc.; Noble Ace Hardware; Foley Services; and media sponsor The Mountain Times.
For tickets and more information, visit: theaterinthewoodsvt.org.
