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Confessions of a Mormon Boy |
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Author: Steven Fales
Reviewer: David Roberts for Theatre Reviews Limited |
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Ex-sex-worker, ex-addict, ex-passing-for-straight Steven Fales presents his amazing life story in a tour-de-force one-person show at this year's New York International Fringe Festival. "Confessions of a Mormon Boy" is Steven's generous offering to all of us who have struggled with what it means to be gay, lesbian, straight, bisexual (what's THAT about?), transgender, human. His classy, inspiring, omni-sexual performance moves from grace to grace and traverses his, and everypersons (like Everyman but better) journey from the "depths of unhappiness" to self-acceptance and complete personhood.
Steven's "confessions" moved through coming out (God bless Donny Osmond), heterosexual dating and marriage, addiction, strutting his hottie stuff (for cash), struggles with the church, to his realization that he was all right just the way he was! There is no need for any of us to ever feel irrelevant or invisible (like women in the church, for example). There is no reason to suffer under irreparable heterosexism (or any -ism). There is no reason for self-abuse. There is no reason to beg for approval. There is certainly no reason for us to be victims.
  
Mr. Fales, under Jack Hofsiss' brilliant direction (as usual) encourages us to begin to clear up and clean up the messes we are in, to not "sell our smiles" (you will understand when you see the performance), and to be who we are. Steven's choice of "confessions" is relevant and visionary. When early Christians knew they had missed the mark ("sinned"), they put on sackcloth and dumped some ashes on themselves and headed to their nearest friend's house. When they knocked on the door and their friend saw the "costume," their friend knew it was time to listen up, time to love unconditionally and non-judgmentally.
Steven's "Confessions" moves us through all the "dooms of love" (thank you, Mr. Cummings) to that place of "redemption and release" called human where justice is normative and eternity is a bonus. He inspires us to love as we ought to love and accept one another with no conditions.
My only confusion about Steven's otherwise brilliant performance piece is why he would ever want to consider himself a Mormon (albeit excommunicated). My heart sank when he said he attended Christmas services with his kids (was I hallucinating?). The church he experienced was and is (as they ALL are) abusive, horrid, inhumane and no place for children. I'd rather a person continue as a sex-worker than attend a church.
Steven, my newfound friend (didn't expect that, did you?), stay away from the church. Please don't encourage gay and lesbian folk to attend any service. The hymns, beautiful and exhilarating as they are, are as toxic as the system that inspired them. You do not need the church. Your people (namely, all of us!) need to you to continue to encourage us to be human and ensure that the smile we display is a real smile, reflecting a reconstituted, Creator-loved human being.
Thank you and Jack for one of the most brilliant pieces of theatre I have seen. How in the name of all that is indeed "holy" are you going to make this a commercial success? I guess it doesn't matter. What you gave me (and us) is truly transcendent, truly holy, and truly so filled with the Great Spirit that you will gift and grace us for many performances to come.
You showed us a Creator who "knows who we are" and who is "so much bigger" than any church, any temple, any mosque, any home worship center. What more could we ever ask? You, Steven, are what a blessing is. Indeed, you are what is bless-ed.
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Written and performed by Steven Fales. Directed by Jack Hofsiss. Set and lighting design by Tim Saternow; costumes by Ellis Tillman; sound by Steve Shapiro. Presented by MB Productions at The Plaza Cafe at Pace University, 3 Spruce Street (by City Call) in Manhattan as part of the 8th Annual New York City Fringe Festival. Performance schedule: Friday August 13 at 8:15 p.m.; Sunday August 15 at 3:30 p.m.; Wednesday August 18 at 10:15 p.m.; Thursday August 19 at 4:00 p.m.; Saturday August 21 at 3:15 p.m.; Friday August 27 at 5:15 p.m.; and Sunday August 29 at 12:00 Noon.
Check here for added performance dates and times.
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