Little Children Dream of God: Theater review by Helen Shaw
The voodoo fable Little Children Dream of God violates a cardinal rule of playwriting: Jeff Augustin sets up situations and then simply fails to imagine their ramifications.
In the sloppily conceived fairy tale, hugely pregnant Haitian refugee Sula (Carra Patterson) escapes to Miami. Handily, she meets nurse Carolyn (the unquenchable Deirdre O'Connell), who has 11 children, a (literal) relationship with God and—weirdly—room in her apartment to put Sula (and baby) up.
The writing can be painful: Landlord Joel (Maurice Jones) falls for the newcomer (“I want to smell your sweet musk”), despite Sula's (1) belief her baby is possessed and (2) patent revulsion. The play's mythology is confusing and contradictory; there's no focus (where are Carolyn's kids?); and actors ricochet among traits (is Joel whiny stalker or heroic mensch?) that can't coexist. The one thing the playwright must do is believe in his own constructed world. If he won't, how can we?—Helen Shaw
Roundabout Underground (see Off Broadway). By Jeff Augustin. Directed by Giovanna Sardelli. With ensemble cast. Running time: 2hrs. One intermission.