Catherine’s garden is a mess. In her suburban Austin yard, the white widow chatters amiably to Arturo, the gardener-writer from Cuba, hired to bring order to the overgrown vines and branches. Initially they struggle to connect across a divide. He speaks three languages, and she speaks two with lots of wordplay. It’s not a contest, she advises. Although it might be in terms of who has more baggage.
Just when you think this drama is going to be a familiar study in class consciousness and Hispanic-Caucasian relations, it takes a sharp turn. “By the Waters of Babylon,” by Robert Schenkkan (“All the Way,” “The Kentucky Cycle”) is more concerned with redemption, soul cleansing and the literal washing away of sins.
Catherine (Patty Ionoff) and Arturo (Kent Randell) live with the ashes of old memories. They share different types of survivor guilt.
Ionoff ranges from politely quippy to dark and menacing; Randell goes from self-contained to poetic. Both give touching performances, each playing off the other well.
In the Edge Theater production directed by Warren Sherrill, the characters are vividly played, although some of the plot’s abrupt shifts are a challenge. The admirable indoor/outdoor set design by Justin Lane draws us into the upscale suburban world, where the neighbors reportedly shun Catherine. Much of the busiest, most profound action takes place in our imaginations as the characters reveal their stories.
The writing aims to tackle a dozen themes — from indigenous people’s mythologies and music to Castro’s communism to white privilege, a mother’s guilt, a son’s guilt, the power of grief and human resilience. There’s a lot going on — including the mixing of mojitos — although the first act doesn’t quite provide enough evidence to support the surprise of the second.
For better or worse, the second act speaks still another language. Is the gasp-inducing shock earned, or is it a trick by the playwright? Well, we did gasp out loud. And the resolution is quite moving. The play succeeds in sending us out into the night debating the point.
“BY THE WATERS OF BABYLON” Drama. ***. By Robert Schenkkan. Directed by Warren Sherrill. With Patty Ionoff and Kent Randell. through July 3 at The Edge Theater, 1560 Teller Street, Lakewood. Tickets are $28, available by calling 303-232-0363 or online at www.theedgetheater.com.
