Production puts human face on sexual abuse crisis

By Brooke Leister / Staff Writer
Thursday, May 27, 2004

'Sin' focuses on church scandal Robin Vachon, a victim in the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal, is hopeful the Boston debut of the play "Sin: A Cardinal Deposed" will not only bring healing to victims, but will raise awareness.

"It's a matter of education at this point... Anything you can do to educate and get the public to feel emotional - if you can tap into emotion, you may be able to motivate change," said Vachon, a Holliston resident who was allegedly abused as an adult.

"Sin" makes it Massachusetts debut at The Regent Theatre June 9. The docu-drama, based on the clergy sex abuse scandal in Boston, runs through June 27.

During a recent press conference, Mark Steel, "Sin" company manager, announced the "Focus on 10,667" program, which aims to raise money for victims of sexual abuse and their families.

Steel said 10,667 is the number of children with "credible" allegations of clergy abuse from 1950 to 2002 recently disclosed in the John Jay College report commissioned by the Catholic Church.

"We believe that by calling attention to this number, we can keep the focus on what is really important for this production - the survivors who endured the abuse," said Steel, who portrays attorney Roderick MacLeish Jr.

The Regent Theatre will host a benefit performance June 14 at 7:30 p.m. Organizers hope to raise at least $10,667, which will be donated to three clergy abuse survivor organizations - The Linkup, a national survivor support organization based in Louisville, Ky.; Survivors First, a survivor advocacy group based in Boston; and Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, based in Chicago, Ill.

A second benefit show will be performed June 21 at 7:30 p.m. at The Palace Theatre in Manchester, N.H. "Sin," performed by the Bailiwick Repertory of Chicago, debuted in March to critical acclaim.

The entire Chicago cast will perform throughout the Arlington run. "Sin" playwright Michael Murphy was living in New York when the media began widely reporting the scandal.

Out of confusion and concern for the victims, Murphy decided to research the scandal on his own.

"I started doing more research myself," he said. "As a dramatist, this material is complete drama. As I started doing research, I came across these depositions."

Those depositions, from the cases against the church, provided the basis for the docu-drama. "Fictional narratives have become worn-out," explained Murphy, now a California resident. "Actually having the words they spoke instead of words I made up adds a layer of authenticity that people want."

Murphy will donate royalties from all Arlington performances to the Patrick and Joanne McSorley Fund. Patrick McSorley, whose testimony is included in "Sin," was one of the most outspoken people in the case. He died Feb. 23 - one week before the show's premiere in Chicago.

The memorial fund was established to help his son, Patrick Jr. and stepdaughter, Joanne with their educational needs.

David Zak, artistic director for Bailiwick, said support for the play has been amazing.

"Probably right from the very beginning when the play was announced in December, we had a lot of people who were supportive and (we) got mandates saying, 'You better get it right,'" he said.

Given the subject matter, the cast felt an enormous responsibility.

"At times, it felt like we were all in therapy together. It was a difficult process to go through because the stakes were so high," Zak said. "What we've taken strength from is people who have seen the show and have said, 'You didn't tell my story, but you showed the pain.'"

Jim Sherman, who portrays Cardinal Bernard Law, said the material evokes emotion from him each time he performs.

"It hurts every time I do it," he said. "I don't know Cardinal Law and I never will. The words themselves speak volumes."

While he said he knew the facts, the numbers and statistics, he is careful not to mimic Law.

"All it did was put a human face on the carnage," he said of the show. "It hurts. I guess I pull it way inside and try to reconcile what was going on. It caused some sleepless nights."

While the upcoming shows will be performed by the Chicago cast, Zak hopes Boston theaters will stage their own productions with local actors.

"The issue will not end when we leave June 27. Shanley's trial is coming up in October. This is a piece that will resonate for awhile," he said. Defrocked priest Paul Shanley, 73, is awaiting trial on charges of raping four boys in a Newton parish in the 1980s.

Murphy believes art, whether plays, paintings or sculpture, can be a powerful healing tool.

Vachon agreed.

"This story 'Sin' is our story. It's everyone's story. The abuse is ongoing," she said.

Sin: A Cardinal Deposed" will run at the Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St., June 9 through 27. Showtimes are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $30 on Wednesdays and Thursdays and $40 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets can be purchased online at www.acardinaldeposed.com or by calling 781-646-4849.

A benefit show will be performed Monday, June 14 at 7:30 p.m. at The Regent Theatre. Proceeds will be donated to three clergy abuse survivor organizations. The evening will feature a reception before the performance and a post-show discussion with the audience and special guests, including playwright Michael Murphy, the director and cast.