Actors' NET of Bucks County Presents MASS APPEAL, Opens 4/17

Can a wise old parish priest teach a young firebrand of a seminarian how to serve the church without raising the devil? God only knows!

That's the dilemma facing kindly Father Farley in Bill C. Davis' comic drama Mass Appeal, performing live on stage weekends, April 17 - May 3, at the Heritage Center in Morrisville. The Actors' NET of Bucks County production stars Rupert Hinton of Princeton, NJ as Father Farley and Chuck Donnelly of Levittown as seminarian Mark Dolson. Virginia Barrie of Ewing, NJ directs.

Davis' play was a Broadway favorite in 1981. It explores the politics existing within some church dioceses. The priest is a charmer who wins over his congregation with his winning personality and curries favor with the bishop through tact and diplomacy, while the seminarian argues for the church becoming more socially engaged rejects what he calls "song and dance theology." Film icon Jack Lemmon starred as the parish priest in the 1984 film version, which costarred then-newcomer Zeljko Ivanek. 

"I am thrilled to be directing Mass Appeal for The NET," Ms. Barrie said. "Our company originally planned to produce the popular play Doubt in this time slot, but the stages mass appeal rights to it were restricted. Fortunately, Mass Appeal was available. On first read, I found it to be as compelling and relevant as Doubt. Plus, it being a two-person play, I've had the luxury of working with our two costars to help them mine the depths of their conflicting - and conflicted - characters. Rupert and Chuck are a joy to watch!" 

Hinton is an area stage veteran, who has appeared with Shakespeare 70, Yardley Players, Playmasters, Franklin Villagers and others. NET audiences may remember him from his role as Robert Morris Sr. in 2005's encore staging of The Man Who Bought a Country. His NET debut came in 2004's Amadeus.

Donnelly is a NET regular and Founding Member - first appearing in their 1999 production of Laughter On the 23rd Floor. He has since appeared in more than 40 shows; most recently costarring in The Last Days of the Dinosaurs, Cyrano de Bergerac, The Desperate Hours and Death of a Salesman. The producers named him a 4th Season co-Most Valuable Performer (MVP) in recognition of his work on and backstage. 

Mass Appeal performs at the Heritage Center, 635 N. Delmorr Avenue (Route 32), Morrisville - near the Calhoun Street Bridge. Show times are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 6 p.m. Admission is $20 for adults, $17 for seniors and $10 for children under 13. To reserve, phone the nonprofit theatre company at 215-295-3694 or email actorsnet@aol.com Pre-purchased tickets are available on-line with credit card at www.brownpapertickets.com - at site, search for "actorsnet."