Mass Appeal

by Bill C. Davis

Father Tim Farley, a lover of the good things in life, is comfortably ensconced as priest of a prosperous Catholic congregation. Without realizing it, he has resorted to flattering his parishioners and entertaining them with sermons that skirt any disturbing issues, in order to protect his Mercedes, his trips abroad and the generous supply of fine wines that grace his table (and his desk drawer). His well-ordered world is disrupted by the arrival of Mark Dolson, an intense and idealistic young seminarian whom Father Farley reluctantly agrees to take under his wing. There is immediate conflict between the two as the younger man challenges the older priest's sybaritic ways, while Father Farley is appalled by Mark's confession that he had led a life of bisexual promiscuity before entering the priesthood. In the final essence their confrontation is a touching yet very funny examination of the nature of friendship, courage and the infinite variety of love, as the older man is reminded of the firebrand he once was, and the younger comes to realize that forbearance is as vital to the Christian ethic as righteousness.

Genres: Plays, Theatre, Drama

49 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

Reviews

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good.

[Martin Denton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mass Appeal begins with its two characters' initial confrontational meeting at one of Father Farley's "dialogue sermons." Mark, an outspoken young seminarian visiting Farley's church for the first time, contradicts the older man in front of his congregation. Farley gently chides Mark after the service, but is nonetheless taken with his guileless idealism: Mark is, Farley says:

... a lunatic. And the church needs lunatics--you're one of those priceless lunatics that come along every so often and make the church alive. The only problem with lunatics is they don't how to survive. I do.

Mass Appeal charts the growth of the relationship between the two men, illuminating the spiritual bond that brings them together and the more worldly matters that pull them apart. Mark decries Farley's detached, formulaic approach to his work; he questions the compromises that Farley continuously makes to remain popular with his parishioners and the subterfuges and white lies that keep him on the good side of his superior Monsignor Burke. For his part, Farley worries that Mark's blunt and tactless impatience with the hypocrisy of the Church's leaders and adherents will prevent him from ever becoming a priest. In particular, Farley warns Mark to back down when he takes a vehement stand against the Monsignor's homophobic dismissal of two seminarians.

The play's two big questions--Will Mark become a priest? Will Father Farley regain his conscience and his soul?--frame the dozens of smaller ones that actually propel it. Mass Appeal is a series of dialogues between two very articulate, intelligent men, on topics ranging from the best way to offer consolation to the purpose of the Church to the nature and meaning of love. Behind the discourse is the principled wisdom and unwavering faith of its author, Bill C. Davis. In the end, Mass Appeal tackles the most fundamental issues of contemporary life. In this cynical time, it's important to be reminded as we are here of concepts that are bigger than ourselves--notions like integrity, compassion, and humanity.

[Brian McCann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed revisiting this play that I did more than30 years ago.

[Shawn Deal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this play. It is still very topical and worthwhile.

[^ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thirty years on this hasn't really dated. The reviewer in the New York Times was spot on in saying "First rate ... a wise, moving and very funny comedy about the nature of friendship, courage and all kinds of love." Spot on.

It's a good (though not a long) read. When I reached the end I thought how very much I’d like to see a professional staged production of “Mass Appeal”. Given that only two actors (though very good ones) are required; maybe this might just happen someday?

My copy is inscribed, "For Sir Alec, a modest token from a lifelong admirer, Denis Caslon, St Bernard's school NY June 1982"

[Kevin · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is something pleasantly suspended-in-aspic about this play, which dates from the half decade or so before AIDS when American popular culture seemed almost ready to give homosexuality a middle class liberal hearing. If American attitudes toward homosexuality have changes in 30 years ("let 'em get married and let 'em see just what they're missing" seems to be the unconvincing liberal badge of honor,"ït's önly fair") the church hasn't even come that far, so maybe this play isn't as irrelevant as I would like to think it is.

[colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

read 06.11.86

[Lyf · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic play filled with wit and wisdom.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read. i look forward to seeing this in a couple months.