The Arlington Advocate

Regent Theatre pleased with run of 'Sin'
By Brooke Leister/ Staff Writer

Thursday, July 1, 2004
When "Sin: A Cardinal Deposed" opened at the Regent Theatre, organizers hoped it would not only help victims heal, but also raise awareness.

Since wrapping June 27, theater owner Gary Adelson believes it has done both.

"I'm getting calls and e-mails thanking us," Adelson said. "This show was the proudest moment for me at the theater."

"Sin," the docu-drama based on the clergy sex abuse scandal in Boston, made its Massachusetts debut at the Regent Theatre June 9. The play, written by Michael Murphy and performed by the Bailiwick Repertory of Chicago, opened in March to critical acclaim. The Chicago cast performed through the Arlington run.

"I don't think we had any idea how much impact the show had on people who have seen it. Regardless of how many people there were at any given show, people were affected in some way," said Leland Stein, director of marketing and promotion at the Regent Theatre.

When the show opened in Chicago, Mark Steel, "Sin" company manager and an actor, said the response was immediately positive.

"They (attendees) kept saying, 'You have to come to Boston,'" Steel said.

Upon contacting Adelson, Steel said the small cast felt welcomed into the theater. This is the first tour for the Chicago company.

"They have been so incredible in bending over backward," Steel said of the Regent staff. "Upon talking to me and me sending them the press, they felt very strongly it could be a good thing for Boston and for their theater."

While showing in Chicago, Steel said there were no protestors. Boston proved to be the same except for one anonymous postcard sent to the theater.

"We knew we were coming into the heart of the matter by coming to Boston," Steel said. "We weren't prepared for how positive the response would be. Over and over again, we hear, 'Thank you for telling the story. This is what Boston has needed for years.'"

For the performers, the show was even more powerful.

"Knowing that these people not just read about this, but lived this for years and years (made it more powerful)... And even though it's not on the front page of the newspaper anymore, it's still going on. The energy was different than in Chicago," Steel said.

Early in the production's run, attendance ranged from 100 to 150 people at the 536-seat theater. As the production went on, attendance doubled. Altogether, about 3,000 people went through the theater's doors.

"The bottom line is, this isn't 'Cats' or 'Grease' - something that has widespread entertainment (appeal) for a night on the town. This is something people have to make a commitment to see. This is not light entertainment," Stein said. "I didn't hear from one person who was disappointed they went."

After nearly all of the performances, audience members were invited to stay for the talk-back sessions with the actors. This proved to be a huge success and an important component of the evening's performance.

"We knew that was an important extension of the show... It is almost the third act of the play," Steel said.

Prior to the play's opening, Adelson installed an additional 42 seats because Bailiwick members expected to sell out. While none of the shows sold out, Adelson has no regrets about installing the additional seats or bringing the show to Arlington.

"I was going to do whatever it took to get them here," he said of Bailiwick. "This was one of those things that felt very good to do."

Because Adelson was such a believer in the production, he deferred payment from Bailiwick, which rented the theater throughout the show's run. He did not collect any money until tickets were sold.

While Adelson had not seen the show before it arrived in Arlington, he had read the rave reviews in several national papers. He also knew the play's subject matter would attract the media.

"It was a huge success for us," he said. "Anything that we do that puts the Regent's name in the media is good for us... My feeling was controversy was good for Mel Gibson (with his movie "The Passion of the Christ") and it will be good for us. It will get us in the news."

While the Regent Theatre is predominately a spot for local productions and concerts, "Sin" has raised the Medford Street venue's profile. Since hosting "Sin," Adelson has fielded inquiries from other theater groups across the country. He welcomes the idea of bringing other productions to the Regent.

"Sin" will open in an off-Broadway production this fall. The Bailiwick cast will not perform in this production. After the New York run, Steel hopes the Bailiwick actors can bring the show to theaters throughout the country.