Theater Review: “The Poisoner” examines the way of water, politics and media
September 17, 2026 / by Paul Willistein, Lehigh Valley Press / Read on lvpnews.com
“The Poisoner” is a compelling, thought-provoking and important drama.
The play, through Sept. 19, Touchstone Theatre, is written by M. M. Haney and directed and was developed by Lee Sunday Evans.
“The Poisoner” had its first run in 2024 at La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, New York City. Touchstone Theatre is the first stop on a seven-city tour that includes stops in Wisconsin and Michigan.
The opening night Sept. 17 performance was seen for this review.
One line of dialogue in the play, to paraphrase, says it all: “The water they put in that glass could kill you.”
Publicity notes for the play state that “The Poisoner” is a fictional work inspired by the Flint, Michigan, water crisis of 2014.
To save money, a state-appointed emergency financial manager switched Flint’s water supply from Detroit’s system of Lake Huron to the Flint River.
Corrosion-control chemicals were not added to the river water, which compromised Flint’s iron and lead pipes. They leached into the drinking water.
Lead levels doubled and in some instances tripled in Flint children. Lead can cause irreversible brain and developmental damage.
The story in “The Poisoner” is told from the perspective of Ron Finder (Aaron Morton), a fictional investigative journalist. The play takes place in fictional Mack City, Michigan.
The real-life reporting resulted in government action and media awards.
In the play, Morton frequently uses direct-address to the audience to explain his reporting, the reaction to it and the results of it.
Morton, surrounded by cardboard boxes of research material, sits at a desk beneath six ceiling lights in a gray-painted office. He imbues the role with a sincere and steadfast dedication to the craft of journalism.
The three other actors in the play are double-cast in several roles. Brett Diggs, Haskell King and Maude Mitchell remarkably delineate each character they portray.
The play runs 90 minutes with no intermission.
There was a talk-back after the Sept. 17 performance with Touchstone Ensemble member Christopher Shorr, Associate Professor of Theatre Arts and the Director of the Theatre Program at Moravian University; Touchstone Ensemble member Jp Jordan, Touchstone Theatre Executive Director, and “The Poisoner” playwright M. M. Haney.
“I identify with all the characters [in ‘The Poisoner’],” said Haney, adding, “Who is the poisoner?”
“Many children died. There were miscarriages. Many children had severe deficiencies in their learning. Who’s going to take the responsibility?” asked Haney, a native Michiganer, referring to the Flint, Michigan water crisis.
“To me, journalism is the positive in the story. That’s the through-line,” Haney said, adding, “Journalism is the hero.”
After the Sept. 18 performance, there will be a talk-back with Greg Sussman, president of the South Whitehall Township Civic Alliance, which opposes the Project Atlas Data Center.
“The Poisoner,” 8 p.m. Sept. 17, 18, 19, Touchstone Theatre, 321 E. Fourth St., Bethlehem. 610-867-1689;
