Mountain Law

Winter 1850. Tamson English has been alone with three young children on the Utah frontier for more than a year. Haunted by guilt over an extramarital affair, Tamson convinces herself that God has trapped her in the wilderness as a punishment for her sins. When she prays for a reprieve, an old friend appears at her door—but it’s hard to know if his coming is a miracle or a curse.
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Mountain Law

Recommended by

  • Chelsea Frandsen:
    23 Aug. 2020
    No matter what she writes Larson has a way of making me think even as I enjoy myself, and she did it again with MOUNTAIN LAW. As always, phenomenal language from this master storyteller kept me riveted. Tamson is a powerhouse of a woman and a role any actress would love to sink her teeth into.
  • Meredith Bartmon:
    20 Aug. 2020
    How do women survive the daily onslaught of white noise and isolation? Mountain Law takes a relevant POV on the individual’s flexible relationship with faith in the light of hardship and changing circumstances. Tamson is clearly a devout woman but she learns to be unashamed of her fallible humanity. Howard is strict in his beliefs but not immovable. It’s a resonant reminder that faith isn’t a monolith. Melissa writes in a beautifully balanced mix of narrative and theatrical storytelling. She asks the audience to observe a time and place they may be viewing too narrowly.
  • Mad Cow Theatre:
    5 Aug. 2020
    The special considerations to the wind are remarkable and help to set the tone of the play providing spatial attitude and rhythm. The juxtaposition of men in the time period is powerful: have we really changed? Have men really changed as much as we'd like to think they have? A very strong character arc for the lead female character, Tamson.

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    States of Play
    ,
    2022
  • Reading
    ,
    Mad Cow Theatre
    ,
    2020
  • Workshop
    ,
    Mad Cow Theatre
    ,
    2020

Awards

Runner Up
,
Women's Voices Play Festival Award
,
Mad Cow Theatre
,
2020
Winner
,
Best Drama
,
Association for Mormon Letters
,
2020