by Stephen R. Lang

Once again, The Sol Theatre Project has a hit.  It is interesting how such a small and intimate theatre can bring you on such a journey.  With this play, Mass Appeal, you are taken to places within the human psyche to question:  What would you exactly do for another human being? 

There are only two actors but a plethora of Off-Stage actors that you could almost swear were really there, on the phone, or in the congregation—but then you are part of the congregation.  Within this 40-seat theatre, there are two large couches, enough for four people.  I took an available seat on the couch occupied by a gay couple and cozied up in the far corner ready to go and take notes when, all of a sudden this guy in a track outfit came up and asked if he could sit in the open spot.  Ugh—I thought, swirling in my head how I would now have to rearrange myself to get a good view and take notes at the same time.  Well, the play started out on Stage Right/Pulpit with Jim Gibbons playing Father Tim Farley a beloved parish priest going over announcements to his congregation, and oddly enough, you are the congregation!   

As Father Farley goes about his business, the man in the tracksuit next to me stands up and asks a question, and questions his knowledge and authority as a Parish Priest.  Can I say I nearly died?  I was seconds away from shushing him when I realized he was the other cast member.  Ooops.  Luck of the seat I guess.  Marc Rowe plays Seminary Student Mark Dolson, who is about take the next step and become a Deacon and has some questions and problems with Catholicism and is directed to Father Farley for answers.   

Mark begins by asking the Church’s role of women and questions if he feels that women should be allowed to be priests.  I gasp.  Father Farley rebuts by saying that the Pope said that Priests should be in the image of Christ.  Mark then goes on to say that there were only three people—all women, at the Crucifixion and that all the men either denied knowing him or hid and fled the city.  He also reminded us that a woman fought her way in the crowd to be able to wipe the face of Jesus when he was enroute with the guards.   Powerful things to think about especially after watching the countless Behind the DaVinci Code specials I’m addicted to.  This man was making valid points.  What was the role of women in the church?  Bake sales, Bingo patrons, Sunday School teachers… 

The lights go down and now focus on Stage Left/Rectory.  They meet and talk and discuss different aspects of the Catholic Church and what it means to be a Priest.  Father Farley is threatened by the accusations made by Mark and the general “I want to shake things up” attitude of this spitfire Seminary Student when he has taken about 20 years to cultivate a loving relationship with his congregation.  He is really worried about rocking the boat or causing a commotion that he himself now lives in fear of angering them.  He unfortunately says, “If you want to be a Priest, then you have to know how to play the game.”  This is not what Mark wants to hear.  See, his Monsignor from the Seminary passed him on to Father Farley because Mark was unruly and headstrong and hoped that he would be able to guide him towards different areas vice changing The System.  Father Farley ends up taking young Mark under his wing and tries helping him by guiding towards how to be a good Priest—or at least how to be one like him. 

Mark, after spending a lot of time with Father Farley, feels the need to tell him certain things about his current life, family and his past.  He was jaded by the ambivalent behavior of his family and parishioners growing up and how it made him angry.  He discloses many more things, but now spends much of his time dealing with people that are: unconventionally needy, live in situations that are not under their control, or extenuating situations.  Every “booked solid” night is another excuse not to deal with ordinary people, those with identity crises, marriage problems, or insignificant problems.  He would much rather deal with lepers, convicts in prison, or truly needy.   Father Farley questions his empathy and tells him that just because the things of the normal people are uninteresting or insignificant to society, they are still problems.  Also as a Parish Priest, you are responsible for guiding, consoling, and comforting them—for they are the ones that pay your salary.  He also makes an important statement on how good your Sermon needs to be, “There is no big surprise why the Collection is taken after the Sermon.” 

After some counseling and guiding, Mark is allowed to give the weekly Sermon.  He is about to do some fluff piece when he realizes that he is in fact not getting the congregation and they are making the appropriate telltale signs.  Without even thinking and out of sheer panic he goes into his original “Question Everything” Sermon and eventually states the claim, “Do you really need the church?  It will be obsolete soon.”  Not good.  Fearing that Mark will be sent away to a monastery in a remote mountain village making rustic baked goods, he tries harder to instill into him the value of the message, the fact that he can move mountains after he becomes a Priest—not before.  Father Farley reminds Mark that he spent 20 years trying to achieve the level of lovedness and that at first, he used to come home exhausted and cry himself to sleep just trying to please them.  He tells him that he should be “as innocent as doves and as cunning as serpents” and that he is needed in the church, but has to be patient—but time is not on his side.   

Mark is given a second chance to do a Sermon and goes on to describe how he once had a fish tank and something went awry and the temperature raised to high and that he wished that he had “ears to hear the fish screaming” but now is “listening for the singing of angels.”   

This play is very emotional and wrought with linguistical phrases and combinations that I think most wish that they could have written down to repeat later.  It brings into questions certain things like:  What would you jeopardize of yourself for someone else?  How much of your past is able to dictate your future?  Are people really able to change?  What qualities in others do we despise of ourselves?  

I recommend this show to everyone I know, the writing is amazing, but I also suggest to everyone that you get your tickets early and as soon as possible, for there are only about 40 seats in this theatre.  The theatre is located at 40 North Flagler Drive, right down the street from Bill’s Filling Station in Ft. Lauderdale.  Showtimes are at 8pm Thursdays through Saturdays, and at 6pm on Sundays.  For reservations call 954*525-6555 or visit them on the web at www.soltheatre.com and tell Robert I sent you.