Yes, it’s another production about Mormons, but this one-may play has a lot more warts than those other LDS white shirts in Uganda.
Having already won over fans at Mardi Gras, the internationally acclaimed Confessions of a Mormon Boy has made its way to Melbourne. Based on the original direction of legendary Tony Award-winner Jack Hofsiss (The Elephant Man) this autobiographical play is written and performed by controversial Latter Day Saints outcast Steven Fales.
Critiqued as ahead of its time for its blatant honesty, this warts and all story deals with Fales’ upbringing as a sixth-generation Utah Mormon, and this issues faced with marriage in the church, reparative therapy, excommunication and a subsequent plunge into a world of drugs and prostitution. For Fales, writing the play was not only cathartic, but also an exposure of how gay people are treated within the church.
“After my church court in Utah where I was tried as a homosexual and formally excommunicated, I thought, “Someone really should write about this!” says Fales.
“I found it all so bizarre and fantastical after all my years of church service, including a Mormon mission to Portugal, that I really wanted to expose it, especially as others were going through it too. I also wanted to tell the story for my two young kids who had no idea what was going on at that point in their lives. If something were to happen to me, who would tell them my story? I didn’t trust anyone to do that, but me. I’m their dad!”
Although told through humor, and song, and yes, The Book of Mormon, the story is poignant, covering such topics as spiritual abuse/religious violence and reparative conversion therapy. It also examines the ex-gay movement, AIDS, chemsex, child custody, parental alienation, cult detox and musical theatre!
But the big question is, how is it perceived my the gay community? Especially in Utah?
“There was a counter-culture in Utah that ate it up,” says Fales.
“Gay Mormons have flown in from all over the world to see the show at different locations, but I’ve learned this story speaks to gay Jews, Baptists and Muslims too. It’s not just about Mormons. Spiritual abuse and religious violence affects us all. I have to confess, that my own Mormon bishop father saw the show, and he does not want me telling this story . . . it’s very bad PR. I’d like to think, however, that formal excommunications have stopped for gays. You can leave the church today, but seldom is anyone thrown out for actually being gay. So I did my duty in writing this show, and I’m still on a mission!”
The show is also about how Fales escaped the sex industry after volunteering for top-shelf human trafficking. It is cathartic to say the least.
“It is the writing that is cathartic and the most difficult,” says Fales.
“It’s the performing that is exhilarating. I love telling this story over and over again because I find new things every time I do it! It’s a continuing discovery. I hope that gay audiences will get more in touch with their stories. We all have a story and I’m just telling mine. I want to give other gay brothers and sisters hope that they can overcome anything and keep going. No more suicide! We may be victims, but we cannot play the victim. This show is about how I got my life back.”
Confessions of a Mormon Boy plays at Chapel Off Chapel from 6 March
For more visit: chapeloffchapel.com.au and mormonboyoffbroadway.com
