Actor-Playwright Lee Weaver will present his one-man play The Secret- The Spanish Inquisition in Old St. Augustine at the St. Augustine Jewish Historical Society Paid Up Membership event in the Flagler Room of the Old Ponce de Leon Hotel on the campus of Flagler College.  There is no charge for paid up members of the Society, membership applications will be available at the door prior to the performance, where membership applications and dues will be accepted until 10 minutes before the performance.  All are welcome, no advance arrangements are necessary. For further information call 804-914-4460.

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Review: The Secret — The Spanish Inquisition in Old St. Augustine

Posted: January 10, 2013 - 5:46pm

Lee Weaver performs in "The Secret — The Spanish Inquisition in Old St. Augustine

By BOB FELDHEIM

It’s year 1613, at a fresh gravesite in St. Augustine. As the lights come up, Lee Weaver, convincingly costumed as a Spanish gentleman of substance, solemnly approaches, takes a few perfunctory stabs at the mound with an available shovel, then turns to the audience, and introduces himself as Jose Miguel Martinez, an Inquisition attorney originally from Barcelona, proud of his role as a “Finder” of those not loyal to the Holy Catholic Church.

Declared in 1480, the Inquisition aimed at ensuring the Catholic orthodoxy of those who converted from Judaism, Protestantism or Islam. In the mid-16th century, many tens of thousands were fleeing for their lives. Some, called Conversos, did convert to Christianity. Others, called Maranos, only pretended to do so; this pretense, if discovered, could result in torture and/or death.

Jose proceeds to relate his story. Nearly 50 years earlier, taking his father’s advice to seek adventure, he signed on with Pedro Menéndez de Avilés (1519–1574), a Spanish admiral and explorer in the service of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. They sailed on June 11 for the New World, and on September 8, 1565, eight hundred soldiers, sailors and citizens came ashore and established St. Augustine.

What an adventurous life it proved to be: rescue on the high seas; love; three generations of family; hiding and discovery; faith;  the Church; the Law; the rack; life and death. The lives of the two main characters, Jose and Tavo — who met during a violent storm on the Menendez voyage — became intricately entwined; a mutually deep, abiding respect and love developed between them. The moral revelation that consumes Jose as he contemplates Tavo’s life, and his own decades-long devotion to the Inquisition, is profoundly moving.

At the conclusion of Act 1, Jose discovers a reality that nearly undoes him. In Act 2, he experiences redemption and resolution. The last moments are stunning, leaving audiences speechless for a few moments before rising as one in an enthusiastic ovation for the playwright and star.

The huge questions underlying “The Secret” are: Did Menendez, and those in his command, bring the Spanish Inquisition with them to the New World, and if so, to what end? And, unbeknownst to Menendez, were there Conversos and/or Maranos among them?   

Weaver devoted many months of intensive research to this project, including recurring meetings with local religious leaders of diverse faiths. He was determined to keep “The Secret” entertaining, educational and exciting, while staying focused on Micah’s instructions in the Old Testament: “Do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly.”

How has Weaver found the time? These past months, he seemed to be everywhere on stage, performing his original one-man, multi-character shows: “Joseph, Husband of Mary” and “Piercing The Darkness.” Yet, here he is, starting off the new year with this brilliant powerhouse of a play. I believe “The Secret” will be recognized by St. Augustine audiences as his most significant play – dramatically, morally, and historically.