Mass Appeal

Mass Appeal is a two-man, Catholic-themed comedy by playwright Bill C. Davis.

Tim Farley is the pastor of an affluent, suburban Catholic parish. He’s highly popular among his parishioners because of his charm, his wit, his easy-going manner and his entertaining, but unchallenging sermons. Young deacon Mark Dolson interrupts Farley in the middle of a sermon, to challenge his stance on the ordination of women. Farley is simultaneously outraged and intrigued by the young deacon, and asks to have Dolson assigned to work with him.

Dolson is an idealistic firebrand, eager to change the Church. He enjoys attacking Farley’s “song and dance theology” and questioning why Farley drinks so much. Dolson thinks it’s his job to shake parishioners out of their complacency. Farley likes Dolson, but sees that he’ll never succeed as a priest if all he does is hector people and make enemies. Each man has something to teach the other about how to perform his priestly duties.