ConscienceImage from TRP website
A play by Joe DiPietro
Review by Ernest Edwards
Conscience is a last minute replacement for the 2025/2026 season by Theatre in the Round in reaction to what was going on not only in the Twin Cities metro, but our country as a whole. As I watched the play last night, I felt so many similarities between the 1950’s and today. This play is being presented at the right time.
I really liked the scenery for the play. When you walk into the theater, the stage floor is covered by the United States Constitution. Don’t forget to look to up, as you will see not only a chandelier but ripped up pieces of the Constitution hanging amongst the stage lighting. Check out the signs in the inner lobby. There are write ups of the four characters, and what happened after the events of the play concluded. Definitely some good reading.
The play Conscience is a fairly new play that premiered in 2020. Joe DiPietro is an award winning playwright known for Diana, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Memphis, All Shook Up, Ernest Shackleton Loves Me, and many more.
The play takes place in the 1950’s and is about Republican Senator Joe McCarthy and Senator Margaret Chase Smith. Margaret Chase Smith was the first female Senator in the US Senate. Not only was she a Republican Senator from Maine, she was the only Senator to stand up to Joe McCarthy. Not capitulating, almost cost her everything. She stood up for her beliefs and the American people.
Also on stage is Jean Kerr played by Mary Lofreddo, who is Senator McCarthy’s assistant and later on his wife. Senator Margaret Chase Smith is joined on stage by William Lewis Jr played by Tim Wollman, who is her administrative assistant. Of course with this being the age of McCarthyism, there were rumors flying around about William Lewis Jr’s sexuality in the play.
Ron Lamprecht is so good at embodying Joe McCarthy, his performance was downright creepy at times. Alison Anderson was amazing as Margaret Chase Smith. She never lost her cool, was also full of composure. If only members of Congress today had her backbone.
Whether you are into politics or not, this play is a great slice of history that is holding a mirror up to current events. Little moments here and there definitely felt like the playwright was speaking to current events. It is uncanny. History does repeat itself.
The play has a run time of 1 hour 45 minutes, including the intermission. Conscience runs through April 19, 2026, check out www.theatreintheround.org for tickets.
