SEEING THE UNSEEN:
JULIA BELL BARRY’S HAUNTING NEW PLAY
Part memoir, part The Sixth Sense, Julia Barry Bell’s new play, which opened tonight at Theatre Row, asks a haunting question: how do we respond to a child who seems to have extraordinary gifts? In the 1999 film, young Cole, who sees dead people, is sent to a psychiatrist. In Bell’s autobiographical version, her son’s visions lead her to seek help from a mystic. The subject matter, in both cases, is undeniably captivating.
Lincoln Cohen as The Boy
Jenny Strassburg as The Mom, Brenda Braxton as The Psychic, Nicky Torchia as Spirit Child
Bell first shared her story in a podcast, then a novel, and now as a 90-minute one-act. Her goal is to spark conversations about faith, family, and the phenomenon of psychic children—and to that end, she succeeds. My theater companion and I found ourselves deep in discussion for hours afterward. The play is strengthened by a compelling ensemble cast that brings stunning authenticity to the material.
Nicky Torchia, Jenny Strassburg, Frenie Acoba as The Sister,
Lincoln Cohen, Brandon Jones as The Dad
Jenny Strassburg, bearing a striking resemblance to a younger Edie Falco, plays the Mom. During a hair appointment, she meets an elegant Mystic (Brenda Braxton) who observes a deceased relative hovering near her. Skeptical at first, Mom’s doubts unravel when her 10-year-old son (Lincoln Cohen) describes seeing a teenage boy (Nicky Torchia) sitting on his bed. As paranormal sightings escalate, they unearth painful truths: a miscarriage, marital strains, and the complicated interplay between religion, science, and spirituality. The husband (Brandon Jones) remains firmly in denial, creating further tension within the family.
Lincoln Cohen, Jenny Strassburg
Director Joey Brenneman faces the challenge of staging numerous scene changes in Theatre Row’s small but soaring space. Scenic & Props Designer Dana Weintraub fills the multiple settings with an abundance of furniture and props, ultimately weighing down the production. Although Brenneman choreographs the intricate transitions with the help of Bobbi Renee Fullerton’s atmospheric lighting and The Roly Polys’ effective soundscape, the frequent scene changes grow tedious. A minimalist streamlined approach may have better served the storytelling.
Jenny Strassburg, Lincoln Cohen, Brenda Braxton
The script itself could also benefit from tightening. The play opens with the Mom narrating an introduction—“this is how I remember the story”—an unnecessary device since the scene is about to unfold before us. Moreover, moments of dialogue sometimes feel too convenient or repetitive, as when the Mom and her daughter (Frenie Acoba) both remark, almost verbatim, that she is “an artist, not a writer.” A dramaturgical eye could sharpen these moments without sacrificing the play’s heartfelt tone.
Lincoln Cohen, Nicky Torchia, Jenny Strassburg
Despite occasional bumps, the production is anchored by strikingly natural performances. Strassburg and Braxton deliver nuanced, grounded work, while young Lincoln Cohen inhabits his role with unforced truthfulness. Nicky Torchia, as the silent Spirit Child, listens with moving, expressive innocence—his restrained emotion, especially when fighting back tears, is quietly devastating (though the device might be slightly overused). Acoba and Jones both offer strong supporting turns.
Nichy Torchia, Lincoln Cohen, Jenny Strassburg, Fernie Acoba
Jenny Strassburg, Lincoln Cohen
With further refinement, Bell’s play has the potential to resonate even more deeply. Her intention to “spark discussions on faith, family, and the need for understanding highly intuitive children” is both worthy and meaningful. Judging by the tearful, sniffling audience, it is already touching a nerve.
Jenny Strassburg, Nicky Torchia, Brenda Braxton
photos by Hunter Canning
Mystic Conversations
produced by New Light Theater Project’s Spotlight Series
Theatre Row, 410 W 42nd St (Theatre One)
Tue-Sat at 7; Sat & Sun at 2
ends on May 17, 2025
for tickets ($35-$45), visit Theatre Row or Mystic Conversations
Gregory Fletcher is an author, a theater professor, a playwright, director, and stage manager. His craft book on playwriting is entitled Shorts and Briefs, and publishing credits include two YA novels (Other People’s Crazy, and Other People’s Drama), 2 novellas in the series Inclusive Bedtime Stories, 2 short stories in The Night Bazaar series, and several essays. Website, Facebook, Instagram.
