Friday, March 30, 2012

Theater Review: Confessions of a Mormon Boy

By Philip Doyle

Confessions of a Mormon Boy is Steven Fales’ autobiographical one-man play that is a triumphant revelation in honesty and personal pride.  It is a story that is written and performed by a man who has journeyed through an array of challenges and arrives at his destination, on the stage before a grateful audience.

Fales’ experiences are at times funny, occasionally heartbreaking, and brutally candid.  A confession of a gay man’s longing for acceptance in and eventual excommunication from the Mormon Church.  He shares a life that includes marriage, fatherhood, and divorce.  He later engages in a show-and-tell about having been an escort in New York City, and painfully recounts the trappings of recreational drug fueled sex. 

Often times, one-person autobiographic plays come off as being self-indulgent … but not this time. 
This is a well constructed account that reveals a man who is loving, smart and driven.  Fales doesn’t wallow in a constant mea culpa of trials and tribulations.  Rather, through this shameless confession, he adorns himself with the powers of self-recognition.  In my world, Steven Fales is a super hero in the gay justice league.

Let’s face it, it takes some serious cojones to write and perform a play about your own life. From beginning to end, Mr. Fales has an ability to present his material with a confidence that isn’t the least bit presumptuous. Personally, I admire that kind of assertive charm. 

Steven Fales’ has taken the proverbial lemons of life, and now sells a very thirst quenching lemonade.  I strongly urge you to go have a taste.

Confessions of a Mormon Boy is sure to bring a smile to your face.

Confessions of a Mormon Boy plays at Denver's Dangerous Theatre
Saturday, March 31st at 2:00pm and 7:30pm
Sunday, April 1st at 2:00pm
For tickets visit: http://dangeroustheatre.ticketleap.com/mormon-boy.