Should you tell people what they want to hear or have the courage to tell them what they need to hear? 

The Red Deer Players are delighted to announce Lori Lane (Twelve Angry Men) will be directing Mass Appeal by Bill C. Davis which will be presented at the Red Deer Scott Block Theatre from February 5th to 20th 2016.

MASS APPEAL is a Tony nominated play that has been performed around the world and made into a movie starring Jack Lemmon. Although set in a Catholic Church it is not a religious play per se. It is a an exploration of a leader’s inner dilemma about whether one should say what people need to hear or what they want to hear? It is about the bravery needed to put principles before popularity. Father Tim Farley, an experienced Roman Catholic priest, has made himself popular with his congregation by accepting the Church’s traditional views on such subjects as celibacy and women priests. Mark Dolson, a young seminary student and candidate for the priesthood, irritates the older priest right from the first scene with his insistence on challenging certain Church traditions. He questions whether one should strive to make things right or sit back, be comfortable and tell the congregation what they want to hear, what makes them feel good. Tim and Mark are two specific characters who do battle with each other in the context of the Catholic Church yet this drama of “need to hear” vs. “want to hear” could be set in a law office, a government, a family or anywhere else. The joy and key to this play is that audiences seem to relate to both characters and ironically this has, over the years, been what has given MASS APPEAL its mass appeal.

Tickets

Tickets $25 ($17.50 Thursdays) are available now online at www.reddeerplayers.com and from Sunworks 4924 50 St. Red Deer (403) 341-3455