Lot's Daughters is a play about sexuality, gender, religion and oppression set in the 1940s. Sitting amid an attentive, intimate audience in South Campus Commons, one couldn't help but feel transported to the locale of the play's setting-rural Kentucky during World War II. The actors portrayed their characters brilliantly, depicting intense emotions and thoroughly embodying their roles throughout the production. Despite the small cast size (only nine actors), each actor did an amazing job of creating a sense of a small, Midwestern community while engaging the audience in the drama and leaving little wanting, as evidenced by the audience's sniffling at the show's completion.Lot's Daughters, by Rebecca Basham, is the story of two young women, Gertie and Susannah, growing up in a fanatically religious town where men have all the power and women struggle with their confined roles. References are made to the Old Testament story of Lot, and parallels between the biblical text and the girls' situation are obvious throughout the show. The drama leaves viewers wondering about faith and pondering how people can twist and distort religion to meet their own means.

Gertie Cobb, powerfully played by Leah Carnow '12, is the protagonist of this story as she questions her relationship with her brother Waincey's (Yoni Bronstein '13) new wife Susannah (Jessi Fixsen '12). Waincey and Susannah, having only met once, marry the night before Waincey must leave for war, leaving Gertie to take in and provide for her new sister-in-law. Gertie helps Susannah learn her own self-worth by showing her tenderness and affection, in great contrast with the treatment Susannah has received from the men in her life. However, as Gertie and Susannah grow closer, they are forced to question the nature of their relationship and whether it is a sin, both because of their romantic feelings for each other and because of Susannah's legal ties to Waincey. Carnow and Fixsen shine as they make a series of emotional discoveries throughout the story, in tears one moment and professing their love the next. The two actresses play off each other amazingly and seem to have real chemistry. Bronstein does a great job portraying Gertie's clueless older brother, and although his character is away at war for most of the show, when he is present he provides some much-needed comic relief.

Added to a story already fraught with trouble is the presence of Brother and Sister Rankin, who are husband and wife and the town's religious fanatics. Brother Rankin, as played by Hank Lin '10, is a character of ambiguous morality until a confession from Susannah allows the reader some insight into the true dynamic of the town. Lin excels in his role, walking to the very front of the stage during his sermon and demanding who will confess before him, making audience members feel as though he is speaking directly to them. His ranting is accompanied perfectly by Rachael Barr's '10 disturbing portrayal of Sister Rankin, as she proceeds to speak in tongues and convulse in seizures on the floor of the church. A true testament to Barr's skill is her ability to create sympathy for her character despite the way she treats Gertie and Susannah and the hate she propagates. The two create a dynamic team of villains.

The cast is rounded off by a crew of supporting characters, including Susannah's abusive father, Harlan Hicks (Benjamin Witte '11) and a young man looking for love, Junior Dobbs (Stephen Badras '13). Although these male figures are on stage less than the female leads, they play influential roles all the same and contribute to the audience's understanding of the gender roles within the town. Another important character is that of Gayla Faye (Erica Lubitz '12), a young woman suffering under circumstances similar to those of Gertie and Susannah. Gayla and Junior Dobbs are responsible for carrying the subplot of the show and do so commendably. Lubitz portrays a sympathetic Gayla, a flirtatious girl who has been forced into marriage to an older man but has not given up hope for a better future for herself. Perhaps the most touching moment of the show comes when Gayla speaks to Gertie about her happiness over her pregnancy. She explains to an innocent, confused Gertie that knowing she will create a new life gives her a sense of power and hope that she has not had before. In the end, Gayla's example offers Gertie an alternative to acceptance of her repressed life as she leaves town and starts a new life with Junior.

Perhaps the most amazing aspect of the show is the actors' accents, which lent the whole production an air of authenticity. With a bare stage, few props and sparse scenery, the burden rested on the actors to get the story across, a feat they pulled off masterfully. Students and parents alike left the show puzzling over what the show had made them feel and think, evidence of a successful production.