by Dan Mayer
Faith can be a powerful thing, whether someone is introduced to it from a young age or discovers it later
in life, and finding or losing faith can irreversibly change who we are. Kate Fodor’s 100 Saints You Should
Know isn’t about saints, but about regular people and how they face the challenges life throws at them,
with faith or without it. It’s a challenging script, particularly for the most devout audiences, and
Schenectady Civic Players’ production captures all of the drama, along with a bit of dry comedy.
The first thing that stands out about this production is the large colorful cross standing tall behind the
rolling set pieces. This massive work of art is covered in different colored fragments evoking the quality
of stained glass windows, while at the same time having a sort of natural quality to it, like some exotic
tree covered in irregularly-shaped fruit. Under the stage lights, in quiet reflective moments, it positively
glows. The cross ties in perfectly with the themes of the play, evoking a reverential feeling and reflecting
the beauty of the church that Alex Yun (Matthew) talks about in the first act.
The cast all turned in memorable performances, especially considering all but two of them were new to
the main stage. Yun is very expressive with his entire face, even from a distance. Jake Huerter (Garrett) is very believable as an naive awkward teenager, and Zurie Adams (Abby) and Brigitta Rose (Theresa) sell the strained mother-daughter dynamic well. The stand-out performance of the night was definitely from Maureen Baillargeon Aumand (Colleen), who ran the gamut from warm and genial to cold and a little cruel depending what the moment called for. She also garnered the most applause, and it was well-
deserved.
Alex Yun and Maureen Aumand in Kate Fodor’s “100 Saints You Should Know,” directed by Tony Pallone, at the Schenectady Civic Players. 
Maureen Aumand and Brigitta Rose in Kate Fodor’s “100 Saints You Should Know,” directed by Tony Pallone, at the Schenectady Civic Players. 
Jake Huerter and Zurie Adams in Kate Fodor’s “100 Saints You Should Know,” directed by Tony Pallone, at the Schenectady Civic Players. 
Jake Huerter and Zurie Adams in Kate Fodor’s “100 Saints You Should Know,” directed by Tony Pallone, at the Schenectady Civic Players. 
Maureen Aumand and Alex Yun in Kate Fodor’s “100 Saints You Should Know,” directed by Tony Pallone, at the Schenectady Civic Players. 
Brigitta Rose and Zurie Adams in Kate Fodor’s “100 Saints You Should Know,” directed by Tony Pallone, at the Schenectady Civic Players. 
There were some signs of opening night jitters, as a few members of cast seemed a bit stiff early in Act I.
They weren’t the only ones struggling a bit through opening night though. A bit of random music played
in Act II, loudly enough to drown out the actors, who to their credit managed to ignore it. Then the house
lights came up while the stage was left in darkness. These things can happen from time to time with any
production, but it’s really unfortunate that those mishaps popped up to break the audience’s immersion in the story just as the cast seemed to be getting comfortable.
Overall, this was an engaging and thought-provoking production, and definitely one worth catching in its
second week. For anyone who’s ever experienced their own crisis of faith, it’s a must-see.
Schenectady Civic Players presents 100 Saints You Should Know by Kate Fodor, directed by Tony
Pallone, runs from January 24th to February 2nd 2025, at Schenectady Civic Playhouse, 12 South Church Street in Schenectady, NY. Cast: Alex Yun as Matthew, Brigitta Rose as Theresa, Zurie Adams as Abby, Maureen Baillargeon Aumand as Colleen, and Jake Huerter as Garrett. Producer: Jeff Rauhauser. Stage Manager: Beth Swallow. Stage Crew: Thorn Burnham. Board Operator: Jamie Flax-Leight. Set Design by Robin MacDuffie. Costume Design by Beth Ruman. Props Master: Betsy Wilcox. Lighting Design by David Zwierankin.
Performance dates are Wednesday through Sunday, January 24th-26th and January 29th-February 2nd Wednesday and Thursday curtains are at 7:30pm, Friday and Saturday are at 8:00 pm, and Sundays are matinees only at 2:30pm. Tickets are $25. Runs approximately 105 minutes with a 15 minute intermission. Contains strong language and artistic nudity. Tickets are available online. Visit https://www.civicplayers.org for more information.