Miriam Trujillo
I always like a bit of new writing at the Fringe. I’m particularly intrigued by any show where the synopsis sounds very detailed in the description: as detailed as if it could be the synopsis for a novel. That’s why I wanted to see Finding Grace which advertised itself as follows:
“Lonely and struggling to make ends meet, five orphans band together to create their own family. Only one thing is missing: a father and mother. One day they receive a letter announcing that they have a new adoptive father – none other than the King! As they each embark on a journey to prove themselves worthy of being loved, Gracie-Jane realizes she has nothing to offer. Striving to make a name for herself, she makes a choice that may cost her everything. This story reveals that value doesn’t come from what you can do, but whose you are.”
While Finding Grace delivered on its premise, it felt somewhat lacking. In particular, I think it was lacking in the character development and plot detail that would make it feel like the tale I was expecting. The plot points that I was so eager to see develop where there, but they felt a bit superficially explored; a bit skimmed over. There wasn’t enough depth in those points, and the pacing was too fast for the story to feel real. As a result, I wasn’t as invested in what came next.
The one-dimensional characters also felt like a missed opportunity to enrich the story. If the pacing had allowed us to spent just a little more time with the characters, I feel like they would have come more alive with more nuance, personality, and depth. All of which would have benefited the whole story greatly, allowing it to be the be the richly textured tale it could have been.
Still, there was a lot of good in Finding Grace. The cast was incredibly enthusiastic and committed to their roles, instilling a lot of life into the simple characters. Though not quite of professional calibre, there was a lot of talent among the cast which gradually drew me into the show more and more. In addition to that, I’d say there was a lot of strength in the production design. The costumes in particular were beautiful, detailed, and clearly had been made with a lot of love. Some decisions in the stage direction, I also thought were extremely effective, giving the show the feeling of a fable or a Fairytale. After my initial disappointment, I found myself enjoying Finding Grace more than I expected.
A discussion of this show wouldn’t be complete without acknowledging the fact that Finding Grace was put on by a Christian Bible College, and the show’s intention clearly was to bring the Christian message to its audience. While that definitely can be alienating to some, I thought the messaging was integreted well enough into the story for the story to still stand as a show, and quite a positive, uplifting show at that. It avoided the more heavy handed attempts at evangelizing that would have turned this show into just a sermon. Finding Grace was clearly a religious piece of art, but it still felt like a piece of art rather than just messaging.
Recommended Drink: A large glass of milk, in keeping with the show’s farming aesthetic.
Finding Grace has finished its run at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Phoebe Bakker
Jake Mace
