The Mint Theater Company in New York is staging Leo Tolstoy's play, "The Power of Darkness," examining the relentless downward spiral of sin, through October 28. The New York Times describes it as "deeply religious," although heavy-handed. The Mint Theater says, "Tolstoy’s tragedy is a heartrending and cautionary tale about the consequences of pursuing personal gain while disregarding morality and the dictates of one’s own conscience—a timeless tale that can never be told too often." The Times critic apparently felt it was a tale told a little too blatantly, and yet, he continued, "despite its heavy-handedness, 'The Power of Darkness' brings home how small acts of dishonesty can lead to outright evil. 'One would be happiest not to sin,' says Matryona [a character in the play], 'but then, what can you do?'"