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Regent
set to be the house of 'Sin' The much-discussed play "Sin: A Cardinal Deposed" is scheduled to open at Arlington's Regent Theatre in June. Bailiwick Repertory, the Chicago company that originated the show, is expected to announce the engagement today. "Sin," about the Catholic Church's sex-abuse scandal, has packed the 90-seat Bailiwick theater since it opened March 2. Written in the tradition of docudramas such as "The Laramie Project," it's compiled mostly from transcripts of Cardinal Bernard F. Law's pretrial depositions in the civil suits brought by abuse victims against priests John Geoghan and Paul Shanley. The Globe's Ed Siegel wrote in his review of the Chicago production: "It almost seems as if the cardinal himself is onstage." The play has provoked high emotions. During the "talk-backs" that follow the show, priests and those who say they were abused by priests have stood up, many in tears, to describe their reactions and experiences. Plans were made to mount the Bailiwick production in May at the Wellesley Summer Theatre, but the college quickly canceled, citing "logistical problems." Boston-area theater companies then approached Bailiwick about producing the show themselves, says Mark Steel, the company manager who also plays plaintiffs' lawyer Roderick MacLeish Jr. in the show. Ultimately, he says, Bailiwick decided "right now it's this beautiful child of ours that we're not ready to let go of yet." After looking at a number of venues, Bailiwick chose the 500-seat Regent because of its size, enthusiastic staff, and availability."We hope that it'll get the same reaction it's getting here in Chicago, and that's overwhelming support," Steel says. "This show belongs to Boston, and we trust once it `comes home,' if you will, that it will be extremely well received." Steel adds that Bailiwick is looking for financial help with the costs of transferring the show. Artistic director David Zak, who's also directing the show, says he's thrilled the Boston-area production is finally happening. And he says that people have been extraordinarily supportive of the little theater's efforts. "People have been handing us $100 bills with their Kleenex as they walk out the door," he says. "Sin: A Cardinal Deposed" will play at the Regent Theatre,
7 Medford St., Arlington, from June 9-27; call 781-646-4849 or visit
www.acardinaldeposed.com.
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