Mass Appeal
Encyclopedia
Mass Appeal is a two-character play by Bill C. Davis. The comedy-drama
focuses on the conflict between a complacent Roman Catholic pastor
and the idealistic young deacon
who is assigned to his affluent, suburban parish
.
Mark Dolson interrupts Farley's sermon to challenge his stance on the ordination of women. The pastor is outraged and intrigued by the young man, and asks to have him assigned to work with him.
Dolson is a firebrand eager to change the Church. He enjoys attacking Farley's "song and dance theology" and questioning why he drinks so much. Dolson feels it's his job to shake parishioners out of their complacency. Farley likes Dolson, but sees that he'll never succeed as a priest if all he does is irritate people and make enemies. Each man has something to teach the other about how to perform his priestly duties.
Productions=
(Mass Appeal) was first performed in many small theatres, including (The No Smoking Playhouse) in Manhattan, produced by (Pearl Tisman Minsky) and (Ken Berman). (Ken Berman) played the role of Tim Farley with (Bill Davis) playing the role of Mark Dolson. At the suggestion of the pastor of "The Actors' Church, Minsky brought the play to (Geraldine Fitzgerald), with whom she was acquainted. When Fitzgerald agreed to direct the play, Minsky was about to bring the play to (Lynn Meadows) at the (Manhattan Theatre Club). Fitzgerald suggested that she would bring the play to her as she was better acquainted with her. Minsky and Berman met with other producers and put together a package for Broadway. At that point, Davis and Fitzgerald dropped Minsky and Berman and had the play produced on Broadway. The Broadway playbill for Mass Appeal notes that the play was produced by arrangement with Minsky and Berman.
The play originally was produced by the Manhattan Theatre Club
. Directed by Geraldine Fitzgerald
and starring Milo O'Shea
as Tim Farley and Eric Roberts
as Mark Dolson, it opened at the off-Broadway
Stage 73 on April 22, 1980 and ran for 104 performances. Fitzgerald won the Outer Critics Circle Award
for Outstanding New Director.
The Broadway
production, again directed by Fitzgerald and starring O'Shea as Tim Farley and Michael O'Keefe
as Mark Dolson, opened at the Booth Theatre
on November 12, 1981 after 16 previews. It closed on May 16, 1982 after 212 performances.
The play premiered in the United Kingdom
at the Lyric Hammersmith
in London
in 1982 with Gordon Jackson
as Father Farley and Rupert Everett
as Mark Dolson. It received its first British revival at the Finborough Theatre
in London in 2006 with Kevin Colson
and Brendan Patricks.
In 1982 the play was performed at Sydney's Seymour Centre theatre, and starred real-life father and son actors Michael and Christopher Pate.
Awards and nominations
Film Adaptation
Davis adapted his play for a 1984 feature film
starring Jack Lemmon
as Tim Farley and Zeljko Ivanek
as Mark Dolson.
Comedy-drama
Comedy-drama is a genre of theatre, film and television programs which combines humorous and serious content.-Theatre:Traditional western theatre, beginning with the ancient Greeks, was divided into comedy and tragedy...
focuses on the conflict between a complacent Roman Catholic pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
and the idealistic young deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
who is assigned to his affluent, suburban parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
.
Plot
Father Tim Farley is highly popular with his parishioners due to his charm, wit, easy-going manner, and entertaining (but unchallenging) sermons. One Sunday, seminarianSeminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
Mark Dolson interrupts Farley's sermon to challenge his stance on the ordination of women. The pastor is outraged and intrigued by the young man, and asks to have him assigned to work with him.
Dolson is a firebrand eager to change the Church. He enjoys attacking Farley's "song and dance theology" and questioning why he drinks so much. Dolson feels it's his job to shake parishioners out of their complacency. Farley likes Dolson, but sees that he'll never succeed as a priest if all he does is irritate people and make enemies. Each man has something to teach the other about how to perform his priestly duties.
Productions=
(Mass Appeal) was first performed in many small theatres, including (The No Smoking Playhouse) in Manhattan, produced by (Pearl Tisman Minsky) and (Ken Berman). (Ken Berman) played the role of Tim Farley with (Bill Davis) playing the role of Mark Dolson. At the suggestion of the pastor of "The Actors' Church, Minsky brought the play to (Geraldine Fitzgerald), with whom she was acquainted. When Fitzgerald agreed to direct the play, Minsky was about to bring the play to (Lynn Meadows) at the (Manhattan Theatre Club). Fitzgerald suggested that she would bring the play to her as she was better acquainted with her. Minsky and Berman met with other producers and put together a package for Broadway. At that point, Davis and Fitzgerald dropped Minsky and Berman and had the play produced on Broadway. The Broadway playbill for Mass Appeal notes that the play was produced by arrangement with Minsky and Berman.
The play originally was produced by the Manhattan Theatre Club
Manhattan Theatre Club
Manhattan Theatre Club is a theater company located in New York City. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Lynne Meadow and Executive Producer Barry Grove, Manhattan Theatre Club has grown since its founding in 1970 from an Off-Off Broadway showcase into one of the country’s most acclaimed...
. Directed by Geraldine Fitzgerald
Geraldine Fitzgerald
Geraldine Fitzgerald, Lady Lindsay-Hogg was an Irish-American actress and a member of the American Theatre Hall of Fame.-Early life:...
and starring Milo O'Shea
Milo O'Shea
-Early life:He was born and raised in Dublin and educated by the Christian Brothers at Synge Street, along with his friend Donal Donnelly.He was discovered in the 1950s by Harry Dillon, who ran the "37 Theatre Club" on the top floor of his shop The Swiss Gem Company, 51 Lower O'Connell Street...
as Tim Farley and Eric Roberts
Eric Roberts
Eric Anthony Roberts is an American actor. His career began with King of the Gypsies , earning a Golden Globe nomination for best actor debut. He starred as the protagonist in the 1980 dramatisation of Willa Cather's 1905 short story, Paul's Case...
as Mark Dolson, it opened at the off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
Stage 73 on April 22, 1980 and ran for 104 performances. Fitzgerald won the Outer Critics Circle Award
Outer Critics Circle Award
The Outer Critics Circle Awards are presented annually for theatrical achievements both on and Off-Broadway and were begun during the 1949-1950 theater season. The awards are decided upon by theater critics who review for out-of-town newspapers, national publications, and other media outlets...
for Outstanding New Director.
The Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
production, again directed by Fitzgerald and starring O'Shea as Tim Farley and Michael O'Keefe
Michael O'Keefe
Michael Raymond O'Keefe is an American film and television actor.- Early life :O'Keefe was born Raymond Peter O'Keefe, Jr. in Mount Vernon, New York, the oldest of seven children in a devoutly Roman Catholic Irish American family. His father was a law professor at Fordham University, as well as...
as Mark Dolson, opened at the Booth Theatre
Booth Theatre
The Booth Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 222 West 45th Street in midtown-Manhattan, New York City.Architect Henry B. Herts designed the Booth and its companion Shubert Theatre as a back-to-back pair sharing a Venetian Renaissance-style façade...
on November 12, 1981 after 16 previews. It closed on May 16, 1982 after 212 performances.
The play premiered in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
at the Lyric Hammersmith
Lyric Hammersmith
The Lyric Theatre, also known as the Lyric Hammersmith, is a theatre on King Street, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, which takes pride in its original, "groundbreaking" productions....
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1982 with Gordon Jackson
Gordon Jackson
Gordon Jackson is the name of:*Gordon Jackson , Scottish actor*Gordon Jackson , Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow Govan, 1999–2007*Gordon Jackson , Australian businessman...
as Father Farley and Rupert Everett
Rupert Everett
Rupert James Hector Everett is an English actor. He first came to public attention in 1981, when he was cast in Julian Mitchell's play and subsequent film Another Country as an openly gay student at an English public school, set in the 1930s...
as Mark Dolson. It received its first British revival at the Finborough Theatre
Finborough Theatre
The Finborough Theatre is a fifty seat theatre in the Earls Court area of London, United Kingdom , which presents new British writing, UK and premieres of new plays, primarily from the English speaking world including North America, Canada, Scotland and Ireland, music theatre, and rarely seen...
in London in 2006 with Kevin Colson
Kevin Colson
Kevin Colson is an Australian stage, film and television actor best known for his portrayal of Sir George Dillingham in the musical Aspects of Love, for which he received a Tony nomination, and his early role as Cliff in the original London production of Cabaret opposite Judi Dench...
and Brendan Patricks.
In 1982 the play was performed at Sydney's Seymour Centre theatre, and starred real-life father and son actors Michael and Christopher Pate.
Awards and nominations
- Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a PlayTony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a PlayThe Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play presented since 1947, is awarded to actors in productions of new or revival plays.-1940s:*1947 - José Ferrer – Cyrano de Bergerac / Fredric March – Years Ago...
(Milo O'Shea, nominee) - Tony Award for Best Direction of a PlayTony Award for Best Direction of a PlayThe Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play has been given since 1960. Before 1960 there was only one award for both play direction and musical direction, then in 1960 the award was split into two categories: Dramatic and Musical. In 1976 the Dramatic category was renamed to Play...
(Geraldine Fitzergald, nominee) - Theatre World AwardTheatre World AwardThe Theatre World Award, first awarded for the 1945-46 season, is an American honor presented annually to actors and actresses in recognition of an outstanding New York City stage debut performance, either on Broadway or off-Broadway.-History:...
(Michael O'Keefe, winner) - Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play (nominee)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a PlayDrama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a PlayThe Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play was first awarded at the 1974–1975 Drama Desk Awards and has been awarded every year since. Before the 21st Drama Desk Awards, acting awards were given without making distinctions between roles in straight dramas as opposed to musicals, nor were...
(O'Shea, nominee) - Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a PlayDrama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a PlayThe Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Play was first awarded at the 1974–1975 Drama Desk Awards and has been awarded every year since...
(Fitzgerald, nominee)
Film Adaptation
Davis adapted his play for a 1984 feature film
Mass Appeal (film)
Mass Appeal is a 1984 American dramedy film starring Jack Lemmon, directed by Glenn Jordan. The screenplay by Bill C. Davis is based on his 1980 play of the same title.-Plot:...
starring Jack Lemmon
Jack Lemmon
John Uhler "Jack" Lemmon III was an American actor and musician. He starred in more than 60 films including Some Like It Hot, The Apartment, Mister Roberts , Days of Wine and Roses, The Great Race, Irma la Douce, The Odd Couple, Save the Tiger John Uhler "Jack" Lemmon III (February 8, 1925June...
as Tim Farley and Zeljko Ivanek
Željko Ivanek
Željko Ivanek is an Emmy award-winning Slovenian American actor best known for his role as Ray Fiske on Damages. He is also known for playing Blake Sterling on short-lived NBC series The Event and Emile Danko on Heroes....
as Mark Dolson.