The Niceties
by Eleanor Burgess
Directed by Cameron Jamarr
Soul Siren Playhouse
October 17, 2026
Raevyn Ferguson, Jodi Stockton
Photo by Patrick Huber
Soul Siren Playhouse
The success of The Niceties depends a lot on its casting. The fascinating two-person play by Eleanor Burgess was recently staged by Soul Siren Playhouse at the Grandel Theatre, directed by Cameron Jamarr. There are a lot of challenging subjects brought up here, and it’s up to the two performers to carry the thought-provoking, challenging, and highly emotional story over to the audience. In this production, two excellent local actors did that job especially well.
The story seems simple at first. College student Zoe (Raevyn Ferguson) is meeting with history professor Janine (Jodi Stockton) to go over the draft of her paper, and at first it appears like a relatively normal meeting, with issues of grammar and structure being discussed. Soon, however, the topic of Zoe’s thesis is brought up, and the discussion gets more intense. The thesis that the American Revolution was successful as a more “moderate” rebellion because of the institution of slavery concerns Janine at first because of lack of primary sources being cited, but soon the argument grows into a battle of wills, assumptions, and emotions as Zoe makes a decision that affects both women and threatens to derail Janine’s career.
There are many important issues raised here, such as the concept of recorded history favoring those in power, and how academia can become something of an ivory tower for the elite. There are issues of racism as well as generational differences–the seemingly endless battle between Millennials and Boomers. Janine, for instance, seems to have a clear bias against online research, while Zoe seems to favor it. There are so many points made in this continuing dialogue that I imagine it’s easy for audience members to find things they agree and disagree with on both sides. I don’t think this play is about getting people to agree on one thing, though. It’s about getting them to listen, and think.
The cast couldn’t have been better. Both performers brought out the complex qualities of their characters with vivid credibility. Both characters are intelligent and stubborn in their own ways, and insistent on the issues that are important to them. They also both have areas where they could benefit from cultivating empathy. Both Ferguson and Stockton showed a great deal of energy and stage presence, and their scenes together crackled with tension. These are memorable characters, and both performers made the most of their roles.
Technically, the show created a believable academic setting by means of Patrick Huber’s meticulously crafted set and excellent lighting. There was also strong sound design by Cameron Jamarr. The Grandel Theatre provided a large performance space, and this production filled it well.
The Niceties is a fascinating play, raising a number of important issues in academia and the world in general. It takes place in 2016, but it is still especially timely today. The ending is a bit abrupt, but I think that’s to suggest that these issues aren’t conflicts that can be solved overnight. Soul Siren Playhouse has staged a memorable production that challenges audiences to wrestle with ideas, listen, and think.
Raevyn Ferguson, Jodi Stockton
Photo by Patrick Huber
Soul Siren Playhouse