If I could describe Blood of the Lamb, a Rapid Lemon Productions stage play written by Arlene Hutton and directed by Jalice Ortiz-Corral, in one word, I would say “disruptive.” In a post-Roe v. Wade era, it is thought-provoking, emotional, and riveting, exploring what it means to be pregnant, B lack, and a woman today — limited by the laws and power of people who will never walk in your shoes — or maybe they do.  Sharon Carter Brown plays Val, the hard lawyer who claims to represent the baby. She meets Nessa, played by Rakell Foye, by chance when Nessa has a medical emergency on a flight from Los Angeles to Chicago and ends up landing in Texas.  Sharon Carter Brown (Val) and Rakell Foye (Nessa) in ‘Blood of the Lamb.’ Photo courtesy of Rapid Lemon Productions. In the state of Texas, the land of barbecue, cowboy culture, natural landscapes, and the Alamo, abortion is heeavily restricted, with laws that prohibit it in nearly all circumstances — including in cases where it could save the mother. This instance comes to life in Blood of the Lamb as Nessa is held in limbo, caught between a system that prioritizes the unborn fetus, even at her expense, and loving the unborn she desired and prayed for after going through in vitro fertilization, but knowing it’s at risk of killing her.  The play consists primarily of interpersonal dialogue as Nessa and Val spend much of the 80 minutes engaged in conversation with one another, aided by body language that really sells the drama and awkwardness. With a simple set design to mimic an office or waiting room in an airport (set design by JR Schroyer), with the nauseating and headache-inducing lighting to match (Allan Seam Weels), we see that two characters go back and forth, slowly but surely unraveling hidden truths about each other, differences, as well as similarities, regarding being Black and a mother.  Rakell Foye (Nessa) and Sharon Carter Brown (Val) in ‘Blood of the Lamb.’ Photo courtesy of Rapid Lemon Productions.Rakell Foye (Nessa) and Sharon Carter Brown (Val) in ‘Blood of the Lamb.’ Photo courtesy of Rapid Lemon Productions. Val, the seasoned lawyer with a troubled past of her own, appears to be in the midst of her own internal conflict, one that makes her question if she’s doing the right thing, and unearths her own sins as she juggles dealing with the predominantly white and male co-workers that make her job that much harder, a husband who depends on her for keeping track of his day-to-day life, and seven children who call her “Mama.” Nessa, on the other hand, is young but eager, seemingly strong and determined, a real Generation Z liberal who refers to her spouse as her partner and has chosen alternatives to conception instead of the ole natural way. And yet, as the story continues, we see her struggle to come to terms with her predicament, the ferocity she attacked it with in the beginning a thing of the past as her harsh reality begins to unfold right in front of her, and she’s left to handle it all, alone — and in a place she never intended to be in.  Just last year, a brain-dead pregnant woman, Adriana Smith, was kept on life support until doctors delivered her baby via C-section, raising concerns about the ethical issues associated with what happens when women and other birthing persons are forced to carry to term — and Blood of the Lamb is not shy about addressing this issue. Blending elements of theater and performance, Hutton’s work embodies what it means for entertainment to be education, as its relatively basic mechanics (sound design by Max Gardner with music by Daniel Lin) turn a controversial topic into art and use the stage (Jannis Hannon) to turn it into something we all should be listening to and paying attention to.  Running Time: 80 minutes, no intermission. Blood of the Lamb plays through September 13, 2026, presented by Rapid Lemon Productions, performing at The Strand Theater located at 5426 Harford Road, Baltimore, MD. Purchase tickets ($25, general admission) online. Blood of the LambBy Arlene HuttonDirected by Jalice Ortiz-CorralWith Sharon Carter Brown and Rakell Foye ...read more read less