Renaissance Theaterworks stages 'Great White Throne' through November
Cara Johnston's play examines the lives of two religious leaders' wives in a Southern Bible Belt community.
By Anthony Foster ·
Renaissance Theaterworks is presenting Great White Throne by Cara Johnston through November 8.
The production focuses on two women whose lives are shaped by the men in their communities. The characters are named Pastor's Wife and Deacon's Wife. Libby Amato plays the Pastor's Wife, and Marcella Kearns plays the Deacon's Wife. Johnston wrote the piece from her experience growing up in the Southern Bible Belt. The play offers an intimate look at a specific Christian community.
Renaissance Theaterworks is collaborating with World Premier Wisconsin on this production. The script was originally developed during the Br!NK New Play Festival in 2025. Many of the artists who worked on the piece during that festival are returning for this run. The company handles the story with care and humor. The characters and the set feel lived in.
The production design emphasizes the differences between the two leads. Kearns wears a floral dress, a soft cardigan, and sensible flats. Her character appears as a boisterous mom who is slow to anger. Amato wears a smooth pink dress, a pink blazer, and pink heels. She stands ramrod straight and appears tense. The audience learns later that her character hates the color pink, even though her bathroom is decorated in it.
A clock hangs on a pink wall in the set. The show uses time literally during its run. The action on stage occurs over the same duration as the audience's visit. Occasional ticking sound cues fill the room. This device keeps the characters and the audience aware of the fast passage of time.
Kearns portrays a character who is rich in kindness. She is capable of sadness but mostly full of joy. For the first 15 minutes, her main goal seems to be frustrating Amato's character. Her charm invites the audience into the story. Amato's character is less approachable. Her internal struggle is clear on stage. Each choice she makes heightens the tension in the room.
The final moments of the play feature a monumental outburst from the Pastor's Wife. The direction frames this explosion as the result of a woman who has been stripped of her own power. The dialogue explores the complicated relationships the women have with each other and with God. The play asks the audience to remain open-minded about religious identity.
Great White Throne runs Wednesdays through Sundays. Tickets are available online at rtwmke.org or by calling (414) 278-0765.
