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MASS APPEAL

By Bill C. Davis 

SYNOPSIS  

(NOTE: The end of this synopsis reveals plot points) 

Mass Appeal was written in 1980 by Bill C. Davis. The cast consists of Father Tim Farley (Michael Duncan) and a young seminarian, Mark Dolson (Michael Perez). Fr. Farley is an established priest of a Catholic church in a well-to-do-suburb. Mark is a young seminarian, within a few months of being ordained into the priesthood.  

The story begins when Mark interrupts the sermon of Fr. Farley, who later expresses his dismay with Mark at having been challenged in front of his congregation and asks what brought him to his church. Mark explains that the Monsignor (Burke) felt Fr. Farley was the most tactful priest in the diocese and that “tact was something [Mark] needs to learn.” Fr. Farley tells Mark that Burke is investigating rumors of impropriety involving two other seminarians and asks if Mark knows anything about it. Mark states strongly that he feels it is not the business of the church as the seminarians were a long way off from their vow of celibacy and that now is exactly the time they should be exploring and deciding. Fr. Farley warns Mark to keep his opinions on this matter to himself and that Burke would make a decision as to whether or not the two seminarians would be allowed to stay. 

Ignoring Fr. Farley’s advice, Mark goes to Burke and expresses his outrage at the possible dismissal of the two seminarians, calling Burke a “homophobic autocrat”. Fr. Farley asks to see Mark and tells him that as a result of his meeting with Burke, Mark has now been “assigned” to Fr. Farley. After a series of lessons, Fr. Farley feels its time for Mark to give a sermon. The result is a disaster, giving Burke more reason to question Mark’s future. Fr. Farley explains to Mark that the congregation must be coddled, as he has done during his tenure. Mark disagrees, saying they need more than anything, to be shaken from their complacency.  

Using Mark’s radical sermon as an excuse to question his suitability for the priesthood, Burke asks to see him. Fr. Farley, in an effort to help Mark get through this interview, offers to role play so that Mark has the opportunity to get in front of the questions Burke might ask him about his own sexuality. Mark is more forthcoming about his past than Fr. Farley feels in his best interest and urges Mark to hold back on all the details. Mark refuses to “become a priest on a lie” and goes to the meeting with Burke, revealing all the indiscretions of his youth. 

Burke reacts negatively and Mark asks Fr. Farley to help him by making a plea to his congregation to speak up on his behalf. Fr. Farley tells Mark that he still hasn’t won over the congregation and recommends that he give another sermon. He encourages him to be more personable, telling the people why he chose to become a priest. Mark gives the sermon to mixed results. Burke chooses to let Mark go from the seminary. Mark begs Fr. Farley to talk to his congregation on his behalf but Fr. Farley ultimately can’t do it – he is afraid of losing all that he has built in his career by defending Mark.  

After saying goodbye to Mark, Fr. Farley gives his evening mass. Fr. Farley opens up to his congregation and gives an honest account of why he became a priest in the first place and how he believes that journey got belied by his own need to be liked. He encourages them to embrace people like Mark, to fight Burke’s decision, and to ultimately work with him to take back their church. 

RATING: Best enjoyed by those 16 and older. While there is nothing inappropriate in this play, patrons under the age of 16 may not understand the content of the story.