Liz’s Review
What an honor and a pleasure it was to be at the U.S. premiere of this play. As many visitors to this site know, I am a long time Stephen Nichols fan who has followed his onscreen work since 1985, when I was an 11 year old with a crush on Patch Johnson. Well that young girl’s crush has evolved into a great respect for an actor who just blows me away every time I see him perform- even more so onstage. There is nothing like seeing the man do theatre: he has said that, aside from his family, it is his greatest love, and there is no doubt in my mind after seeing him do theatre, that he belongs on the stage.
The story behind the play is based on the Covenant House Scandal. Stephen portrays a Priest (Father Sheridan) who is accused of sexual impropriety with a teenage boy (played masterfully by Derek Sitter, who also plays a young Father Sheridan). The focus of the play is the extent of Father Sheridan’s lifelong loneliness, how it gives rise to his calling as a priest and the millions he raises to help unfortunate children…and eventually, how that extreme loneliness ties into his fall from grace. Sheridan’s role as a Priest means he is expected to be holy, pious, and above sin; the consequences of his fall from grace are far reaching.
There are some POWERHOUSE scenes for Stephen as Sheridan. Just some of the most memorable are when he is in a confessional speaking to the reporter, Tony McGuire; when he is admitting his sins to the Cardinal; when he is confronting visions of his younger self.
This is an intense, emotional, multi-level play, with gripping character studies. You are allowed to see the circumstances from all points of view. Father Rosetti, the narrator of the piece, is played by Lorry Goldman. This character also resonates as the “true” voice of spirituality in the play, as I saw him…he was all-forgiving, reminding Sheridan that he is not alone, that God loves him; he does not sit in judgment. The Cardinal is a man in denial, wanting nothing more than to keep everything quiet… until the controversy threatens to cost his church millions, is played by Travis Michael Holder. Tony McGuire, portrayed by Cyril O’Reilly, is a reporter obsessed with uncovering the truth. To that end, in a memorable scene, he betrays his former friend, Father Sheridan.
My friends and I discussed this play for days. What an incredible and passionate cast of actors. There wasn’t a weak link among them. EVERY single actor just had you riveted, sympathizing with their characters, and moved to tears by their plight.
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