The Cell

A compelling play about the anguish and humour of convent life, about women dedicated each in her way to a lifetime of service, yet who cannot cut themselves free from the human failings of jealousy and pride. The two main sub-themes derive from the arrival at the Convent of a delinquent sixteen-year-old girl, Eileen, and the death of the Mother Superior, which closely involves Sister Catherine. There is, in fact, a relationship between what could be taken as the delinquency of Eileen and that of Sister Catherine. There is also the question of what is regarded as "weakness" and what as "strength" in our society. The main theme, however, is the duplicity of purpose in a Christian society—its material ambitions in direct conflict with its ideals.