What meaning does an ancient vow have in a modern world? Modern ? in fact, "several years in the future" -- where technology has changed but human relationships have the same needs and dynamics.

James, in his mid-50's, manages a computer-based accounting firm, with three eccentric and interesting employees ? Jerry, a macho super-geek, Sylvie, a goddess-worshipper, and Patrick, who is sweet on Sylvie but too shy to know what to do. Their little company has been chosen to test a new technology, Cyber-Brain Interface (CBI), that links their brain waves ? wired up through little helmets that they wear ? for increased efficiency and productivity. The new technology looks promising until things start to go wrong.

At home are James' wife, Catherine, an experienced mid-wife, and fourteen-year-old daughter, Rose, a precocious young woman with an attitude.

As tensions rise, something begins to stir in James' and Catherine's dream life, and then bursts through into their waking life. Catherine experiences herself as a Cathar priestess, from the small Christian sect in Southern France of the 12th-13th century, deemed heretical and wiped out by the Roman Catholic Church, first through warfare, then through the Inquisition. James experiences himself as a Templar knight, the premiere order of knights of honor of the 12th through 14th centuries. James and Catherine soon discover that they are sharing the same dream, so specific that perhaps it is a memory. Then they discover that Patrick and Sylvie are sharing the same dream/memory.

What is coming to them from this shared dream/memory? The power of the vows they took eight hundred years ago, necessary now to encounter the threat of the new technology. What does it mean to take a stand, for or against?

More Historical Background: The Templars, or The Holy Order of the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem were founded in 1119 and suppressed in 1314. They continued the tradition of the Grail Knights of King Arthur from the ninth century. They brought many new ideas to Europe from their contacts around the Mediterranean, including the finances and the knowledge to build the great cathedrals (including Chartres). Thus this group created the foundations for the Masons, Rosicrucians, the secret monarchies in Europe, the Founding Fathers of the United States, etc. They were known for their complete trustworthiness, and indeed founded the first banks based on credit and trust.

The Cathars, "the pure ones," probably did not call themselves this, but rather named themselves the "Bonnes Hommes," or the Good People. They flourished in Southern France (and some in other countries such as Italy) during the 12th to the 14th centuries. They were gentle people, non-violent, vegetarians. Why did the Pope mount a Crusade against them? Because the Cathars did not accept the Pope or Catholic Church as the arbiter of spirit, finding instead in the Church corruption and deceit. Records from the time show many instances of gross negligence, crime, and manipulation by the officials of the Church, and the Cathars wanted none of this. Their independence, however, threatened the otherwise universal control of the Church, and they were hounded mercilessly, thrown out of their homes, tortured, burned. Since all these behaviors proved that what the Cathars said was true, many joined even during the hardest times. The Inquisition was created to question, imprison, and finally burn the "heretics," based often on hearsay or completely fabricated stories made up by jealous neighbors. More of the historical background will be given during the slide show/lectures (for times, see below).

Third in a trilogy: This is the third in the "Remembrance" trilogy by playwrights Laura-Lea Cannon and David Tresemer. In the second play, "The Sacred Marriage," we see James and Catherine as a young married couple ? Catherine has just begun studying midwifery with her mentor Clara, and James has a small computer business at home. Previous to that, in the first play, "My Magdalene," Clara as a young woman meets her mentor, Mary Magdalene, in a dream-time first brought on by a coma from a car accident. In all of the plays, memories, dreams, and fantasies become increasingly real, and move into waking life, challenging and enriching the experiences of the modern people who struggle with life's crises.

Playwrights: Laura-Lea Cannon has been a photographer and multi-media producer for the past 24 years. Her emphasis has been on transformational theatre experiences which involve a mixed-media approach. Beginning in the early ‘70s, she produced events for audiences of several thousands which combined spiritual themes with multi-media theatrical presentations, backing up John Denver, Jack Canfield, John Gray, Barbara D'Angelis, Ken Blanchard, Tom Crum, The Humane Society of the United States, Global Assembly of Women in the Environment; and others. She is President of All Seasons Chalice, which runs the StarHouse west of Boulder.

David Tresemer has a doctorate in psychology, has written several books, most recently War in Heaven: Accessing Myth Through Drama, and (with William Bento and Robert Schiappacasse) Signs in the Heavens: A Message for Our Time. Besides co-writing the Remembrance trilogy, he was written The Crazy Metal Birds and other plays based on the twelve labors of Herakles.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS When does it run?: The Vow ran in 2003 at The Nomad Theatre.
Length of the play: an hour and a half, no intermission.
Is this appropriate for children?: We ask that no children under five come to the performance, and do not recommend it for children under 10. For others, they will certainly enjoy Rose, the fourteen-year-old. The content is adult-level drama, but not raunchy, rude, or lewd.