Geva Theatre Hornet’s Nest: Gidion’s Knot

First, what’s the “Hornet’s Nest”?  According to Geva, it’s a “series of script-in-hand readings with professional actors and directors … with plays investigating the most difficult and controversial questions of today…. Since its inception in 2007, the Hornets’ Nest series of readings has become nationally recognized and lauded as one of the most innovative theatrical initiatives in the country.”  What a great concept!

My friend Linda and I attended the first Hornet’s Nest play of the season:  Gidion’s Knot, by Johnna Adams, directed by Amanda Friou.  According to Geva’s website, the play “takes place during a deceptively simple parent teacher conference, when a single mother questions her son’s fifth grade teacher about her child’s suspension.”  The show explores the issue of “who is responsible for children in our society,” “the roles of teachers and the education system in the social development of children,” and how “we accommodate freedom of speech for children.” What isn’t clear at the outset of the play is a) why the child was suspended just days ago, or b) that in the meantime he has committed suicide.

The play was extremely well-attended, and was wonderfully read by Brigitt Markusfeld (the mother) and Melissa Rain Anderson (the teacher) – the emotion they felt and conveyed was practically performance-ready.  The script was suspenseful and disturbing, relentless and exhausting, but with just enough humorous moments to periodically relieve the tension.  The title is a play on the legendary Gordian Knot, which actually figures as a not-so-subtle metaphor in the play.  Just as the teacher had not asked her students to decide how to solve the knotty problem in their school project (one of which is ‘displayed’ on a wall), Ms. Adams has decided not to solve the central question of who’s to blame for Gidion’s behavior. Gidion, at least, has made a decision: his outside-the box solution to his problems is to kill himself.  In the pie chart of blame, there are plenty of slices vying for their share – the teacher, the mother, the education system in general, society, and maybe even the child himself.

Post-performance, the audience was invited to shout out issues the play evoked, and then Skip Greer, Geva’s Director of Education, moderated a discussion with three people from the education community (a school psychologist, a fifth grade teacher, and a retired teacher).  It felt a little bit like a book club meeting, without most of us having to prepare.  It was certainly thought-provoking, but it didn’t shed any light on how to solve or prevent similar problems in the real world, and I left feeling a little more troubled (because bullying and violence and inappropriate behavior seem to have become more prevalent in schools) and a lot more powerless to help effect any positive change.

Several of the educators on stage and in the audience questioned the premise of a child being suspended with no warning or interim psychological intervention, and it seemed as if the playwright took significant dramatic license in order to make her point.  However, in the New York Times the following day (12/3/13) there was a lengthy article about the large percentage of school suspensions in Broward County, Florida, and perhaps Ms. Adams’ premise isn’t actually too far from the reality of the ‘zero tolerance’ policies in place in many school districts.

Although I wouldn’t want to see this play again, even in a professional production (once was enough!), Ms. Adams definitely has an ear for dialogue, and I hope she writes something suitable for a larger audience that we can someday see during Geva’s regular season.