THE NEW PLAY PROJECT
The Fading Flower
Written & Directed by Mahonri Stewart
Provo Theatre Company
105 E. 100 N.
May 29 - June 8
7:30pm Fridays, Saturdays & Mondays
2:00pm Saturday Matinees

Reviewed by Nan Parkinson McCulloch

When Winston Churchill referenced the Soviet Union as "a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma," he could have been describing Emma Hale Smith. And when Joseph Smith Jr. stated that "no man knows my history," this could also apply to Emma for she left no personal journals. Because my great-grandfather, an early apostle, lived in Nauvoo I have had a burning interest in all things Nauvoo, especially the inscrutable Emma Smith. I have searched for insights into the reasons she chose to stay in Nauvoo and align herself with the RLDS Church, now known as the Community of Christ. Because of my passion for church history none of the history in Mahonri's play is new to me, but I find his insights profound. This marvelous play chronicles Emma Hale Smith on her journey from elect lady to fading flower.

The play begins in the 1860s and tells the story of Emma and her adult children. This was long after the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum. It spans two decades in the American Mid-West, chiefly Nauvoo, Illinois and the West, Salt Lake City, Utah. Much of the background information is given from a pulpit in Salt Lake City by Brigham Young and Joseph F. Smith and from the pulpit of Joseph Smith III and David Hyrum Smith in Nauvoo. This works extremely well and feels very personal and authentic. The preaching scene face-off between David Hyrum Smith and Joseph F Smith is powerful and very moving. The beginning action concerns the children of Emma Smith: Julia Smith Middleton, David Hyrum Smith, Frederick Smith, Alexander Smith and Joseph Smith III. After the death of Joseph Smith Jr. Emma married Major Lewis Bidamon and they reside in the Mansion House. This is a challenging time for Emma and her children, because the reorganization of the church is taking place. To add to the confusion they receive a visit from their cousins Joseph F. Smith and Samuel Smith from Salt Lake City, Utah. Each faction of the family has hopes of converting the other to the true church; but some are not yet sure which church is God's true church. The sticking point is the principal of polygamy. The RLDS Church rejects polygamy, denies that it ever happened in Nauvoo and believe it was never practiced by Joseph Smith. The Brighamites, as the western church is called by the RLDS, believe in the practice of polygamy and claim that it was revealed to the Prophet Joseph in Nauvoo and that he lived the principal before his death. This conflict threatens testimonies and family unity as it is played out.

When Joseph Smith III takes over the leadership of the RLDS church he sends David Hyrum Smith and Alexander Smith to Salt Lake City as missionaries. David is Emma's youngest child, born after the death of his father. He is a fine young man: gifted, artistic, sensitive, and a seeker of truth. Some of the information he learns from his seeking will leave him forever changed.

Julia Middleton Smith is one of the truth tellers in the play and her character is as compelling as David's and Emma's. All three are fading flowers and are symbolic of this major theme.

As church leaders Brigham Young and Joseph Smith III are strong in their resolve to do good. Each approaches his truth in his own way and each feels the burden of his leadership and his heritage, with devotion toward his God and loyalty to his church and family.

Stewart is ever the writer of brilliant dialogue. This piece is so powerful and beautifully written it demands competent actors to match the material. These talented and sensitive actors are up for the task and are superb as they bring to life some of the most important players in our early church history. I can't begin to name names, because there were too many marvelous actors. The play is well directed, but too long. Because there are so many scenes, the play is choppy at times.

After seeing some of the recent Emma Smith movies and through the years sensing her absence from the Church lesson manuals I am appreciative of Stewart's courage in writing this bold, candid, historically authentic work honoring Emma Hale Smith. The play is an important historical achievement.

SPOILER ALERT: Please stop reading if you would rather not know the plot line.

Did Emma stay behind because she felt that her children had suffered enough and she was not sure how they would be treated out West? Did God command polygamy to raise up seed unto Him? Was Mormon polygamy an exception to the one husband, one wife commandment from the scriptures? How many were imprisoned and died for the principal of polygamy? After bringing forth the Book of Mormon, organizing the church, protecting his family and his people, why would the Lord allow Joseph Smith's name to be sullied by the divisive principal of plural marriage? Who could expect Emma to go against her oldest living son to defend a principle that brought her so much heartache? These are some of the questions that are considered within the context of this relevant work.

The play is about truth and it is never more obvious than when Julia speaks these insightful words, "David did not lose his sanity because he was told the truth in the end. David lost his sanity because he was not told the truth from the beginning. If he hadn't a false world constructed around him, he would have been able to endure the real one."

Emma Smith will always be an elect lady, but elect ladies grow old, as do prophets. All flowers fade; it is part of God's plan.