Missionary Position
nytheatre.com review by Maura Kelley
August 14, 2010
While standing in line for Steven Fales's one-man show, Missionary Position, Part 2 of his "Mormon Boy Trilogy," I looked at my surroundings and noticed I was one of the only female heterosexuals present. I then started to wonder if it was necessary for me to have seen his first play, Confessions of a Mormon Boy and worse, would I even get or enjoy these 90 minutes of theatre?
Here's what happened: A very likable, energetic, good-looking Steven Fales burst onto the stage and invited us into his story. He begins his tale as a freshman attending Boston Conservatory as a musical theater major who, when confronted with his true sexuality, flees to go on a two-year Mormon mission to Portugal to convert and baptize new believers. Fales plays poignant younger versions of himself as well as colorful characterizations of his Mormon companions, love interests, and one notably bodacious sea captain. He also has a number of great one-liners. His reference to himself as the "Julie McCoy of the Latter Day Saint Love Boat" is a highlight. One recurring theme throughout Missionary Position is the Mormon response when Fales complained of inner struggles: you must learn "to feel" instead of "think." But how can you feel your way out of his undeniable truth, "Please God, make me straight." Ultimately, Fales discovers a truth about himself as well as major inconsistencies of the Latter Day Saints religion. However where this story ends, Fales is not quite ready to embrace all of that truth, which I'm imagining leaves room for one of the trilogy plays I haven't seen.
Fales told us that "Mormons love to scrapbook" so not surprisingly Fales had kept all of his old missionary training books, journals, and scrapbooks, making his props quite authentic. I was hoping he'd pass some of those educational materials around because at one point it took me halfway through a scene to realize that the word "Elder" was not just an unusually common name for a boy, but a kind of honorific for all Mormon boys who are ordained priests.
Fales also uses an interesting structural device of singing old Mormon hymns as scene transitions, and his use of sound and light cues all work to his advantage.
I do have one easily fixable critique for this production and that is that Fales didn't seem solid on his lines, which a little drilling could greatly benefit. And a special note: there is full-frontal nudity in this production.
In answer to my earlier question: I believe a heterosexual woman with no knowledge of the Mormon religion would definitely enjoy this show. How could she not with the superior talents of Steven Fales up there on the stage? In fact, the show's a hoot, laugh riot with engaging thought-provoking moments. Check it out. I plan on completing the trilogy.
