Being neighborly, not nosy, in ‘Reconciled’

Carshena Eunice Baker wrote and directed “Reconciled.”

They say good things come in threes.

But in Carshena Eunice Baker’s gospel play “Reconciled,” it’s bad things that come in threes.

“The people in the play are misbehaving,” says Baker, 38, from West Oak Lane. “You have the nosy neighbor, the busybody preacher’s wife and the meddling mother-in-law.”

That does sound like trouble, especially for the play’s newlywed couple.

“The nosy neighbor, she’s just plain nosy,” Baker says. “I’ll have her doing something different in the next play. I’ll be putting her nosiness to good use — I’m making her the neighborhood watch.”

Miss Betty is her name, and she’s played by Robin Benton.

“With her character being older and the couple younger, they don’t want to be rude to her because she’s mama’s friend, so it’s ‘All right, come in Miss Betty,’” Baker says. “It’s like when you go see family and friends and that one friend is a little too inquisitive about your future — why aren’t you married, why don’t you have kids. I’m like, ‘Calm down!'”

We can relate.

“They have good intentions but their execution is off,” Baker says. “The pastor’s wife, she’s Loretta, she’s in the mix, too. She’s trying to find out from Betty what’s happening.”

How will all this get resolved? A little understanding, a song or two and a whole lot of faith should do it.

“The whole message is that no matter what, you can be restored,” Baker says. “People think ‘I’m so far gone that I can’t come back’ — you can.”

“Reconciled” was first staged in June at New Covenant Church on Germantown Avenue. It’s now back and will be filmed for a DVD release. There will also be a sneak peek preview of Baker’s next play, “Demarco is in Trouble Again!” following the performance.

Baker is planning to tour the East Coast with “Reconciled.” “Demarco” should debut in its entirety next fall.

“People who come to this show will be able to see what happens next with two of the brothers of the play,” Baker says of the sneak preview.

Like Miss Betty, we’ll be watching.

“Reconciled”
Friday, 6:30 p.m.
Cecil B. Moore Recreation Center, Jill Scott Room
2551 N. 22nd St.
$15 in advance/$20 at the door
reconciledfridaynite.eventbrite.com