Holy Laughter

by Catherine Trieschmann

All communities have their eccentricities, but none more hilarious than St. Michael’s Episcopal Church. On her first Sunday behind the pulpit, newly appointed priest Abigail touches on vodka, bondage and death before forgetting her message entirely. Lloyd, an elder member of the vestry, wants to use his tithe to purchase the choice of liturgy and music, while Noah, a young choreographer, thinks liturgical dance can save the church. Esther, a middle-aged hippie, is willing to accept the church’s help with refugee resettlement, as long as no one mentions Jesus, and Martine just needs one more collection taken up to help her errant nephew in Haiti. Can Abigail unite this motley crew and save the church from financial and spiritual ruin? Her supportive bishop believes a glass of scotch and a little pep talk will do the trick. Vivienne, a rival pastor and purveyor of the prosperity gospel, is ready for St. Michael’s to shutter its doors completely so she can purchase the organ. Abigail’s not entirely sure what God thinks. Every time she tries to pray, dirty limericks pop into her mind and plastic fish fall from the sky. As Advent approaches, the church boiler goes kaput, and the church’s one convert, Myra, proves to have a hidden agenda. Abigail gives into one wild night that sends her down a tunnel of doubt and fear, and it looks like the church may fall apart completely. But advent has a way of turning fiascoes into blessings, and as Christmas approaches, Abigail and her congregation manage to find joy amidst the chaos. Hymns, liturgical dance and a wicked tongue lift this antic portrait of a small, struggling congregation to comic heights.

Published January 1, 2018

Reviews

[Neil R. Coulter · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I read, I felt about the play much as Martine said to Abigail: "When I leave your services, I feel confused and frustrated and anxious." What I like about the play is the total honesty people share with each other in the church. Abigail's church reminds me in some ways of churches I've known before. But the out-there honesty about what people are feeling doesn't come to the surface so quickly as it does in this script. And in that honesty, there are many hilarious lines. It's very Vicar of Dibley; not quite Father Ted, though there are moments that are close.

What I didn't like about this play is that the resolution at the end leaves a lot more issues unresolved than I would prefer. Victor's counsel is intriguing, but the conclusion of the story has not yet grappled with what he says. There are Christian traditions that are neither the Episcopal church nor the prosperity gospel, and they might have guidance to offer.

[Collin Kavanaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious and very human. A play the Church doesn’t know it needs right now.

[Rachel Sperduto · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very eh! It was quick. I feel like the gospel was missed. My favorite part was the MLM. Felt pretty accurate.

[Cate · Rating 4 out of 5]

If nothing else, my class put on a killer performance. Seriously, unmatched.