Missa Solemnis, or The Play About Henry: By Their Fruits

Gay stage Mormons are nothing new. From Angels in America to Confessions of a Mormon Boy, we've seen their struggles depicted many times. Roman Feeser's new play Missa Solemnis, or The Play About Henry adds very little to the dialogue. The play is based on the true story of Henry "Stuart" Matis, a 32-year-old devout Gay Mormon who committed suicide in 2000 when he eventually decided that his church was incompatible with his same-sex attraction.

The production of the script is certainly timely- California's 2000 Proposition 22 (The Knight Initiative) that's being debated in the script (and which was heavily funded by the Mormon Church) is very similar to California's just-passed Proposition 8 (also similarly funded). Though, sadly, the text, with some exceptions, is rather predictable, though perhaps this is not the fault of the playwright- it is based on actual events, and it's been said there's nothing more cliché than real life. The dialogue is mainly stilted and clunky, with characters ready to deliver diatribes on faith at the drop of a hat. The script is an odd mix of scenes with occasional direct-address, and occasional out-of order sequences that makes it seem at times like a VH1 Behind the Music episode, and despite the monologues, is still occasionally unclear when it comes to the motivation of the characters.

There are 5 characters in the play, Matis (Matt Huffman), his parents (Bill Fairbairn and Gail Winar), a bishop to counsel him (Warren Katz), and a love interest (Jai Catalano). The performers do a good job, Huffman and Katz are especially fine. Winar's over-the-top graveyard scene was technically impressive, though really unnecessary.

The most interesting scene is between Matis and the bishop, who is the most open to new ideas and debate (and also the only real-person character Feeser was able to interview), though even he acknowledges that the positions of the Mormon Church are intractable. It includes some provocative discussion regarding Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith's possible acceptance (or at least tolerance) of homosexuality, as well as the Evergreen movement, an ex-gay Mormon group.

Matis' hopelessness comes across clearly through the play- he's fighting against staid dogma (The parents and their area are dressed and decorated nearly entirely in black and white- Set Design by Marisa Merrigan, Costume Design by David B. Thompson), though he keeps praying throughout.

It's hard to figure out who the audience is for the piece- it seems to be intended as a wake-up call for Mormons, though I don't know many who would go to see the show- especially with the full-frontal nudity and man-on-man kissing (even if rather tame, I'd think it's still enough to keep this play from most ecclesiastical circles (I've inferred from the website that when the play was performed in Salt Lake City, the character kept his underwear on))- and indeed, if Matis shooting himself on the steps of a Mormon Church wasn't a wake-up call already, I don't suppose a play on the subject will be any more effective. An audience of Gay men (most of the attendees the night I was there), will enjoy the full-frontal nudity and man-on-man kissing, but might be bored by the banal "mom, I'm gay" storyline. Gay Mormons? preaching to the choir, and I can't think this would be anything but a possibly cathartic martyrdom.

The direction, by Linda S. Nelson, keeps the transitions moving at a quick clip, as if to make up for the plodding earnestness of the script.

Missa Solemnis, or The Play About Henry
Row Man Productions NYC and LSNelson Productions

The TBG Theatre
312 West 36th Street (3rd Floor) between 8th & 9th Avenues in NYC.

Performances run Wednesdays-Saturdays at 8pm through November 22nd.

Tickets are $18 and can be purchased online at http://www.SmartTix.com or by calling 212-868-4444.

Photos courtesy of Graham T. Posner:

1. Matt Huffman as Henry Stuart Matis
2. Jai Catalano as Todd and Matt Huffman as Henry Stuart Matis

To post a comment, you must register and login.