I had a nice experience today.

Bug-Eyed Earl · Post by **Bug-Eyed Earl** » 2004-02-07 01:47am

I played Stephen Belber and a few other characters in a production of "The Laramie Project." After the performance tonight, the director brought us into the theater, and there waiting for us was a priest, who turned out to be the real Father Roger Schmit, who is a character in the play. It turned out he had moved to Kansas City to be the pastor for the local hospital (the one I was born in, as a matter of fact).

He was avery warm man, and he gave a quote that proved he was the man in the script.

"Tolerance. Such a terrible word. I mean, who wants to be merely tolerated?"

he was a great guy. You have to understand, the Laramie project is transcripts of interviews a theater group (including Stephen Belber) made with the people of Laramie, Wyoming in the year following th emurder of Matthew Shepard; of the religoous clergy they interviewed, including Mormons and Baptists, Father Roger blew them away because they had gotten used to dealing with hypocrites.

"What those two young men did to Matthew was violence. But when someone calls you a fag, or a lez, or a...a-"

"Dyke?"

"Dyke! Yeah, dyke. Do you realize that is violence? That is the seed of violence."

This was a real pleasant surprise; the actor playing Father Roger still had his faux collar on that was only tape; so Father Roger gave him the collar he was wearing, saying he had a dozen more.

It's nice to meet a religious authority who reminds you that religion isn't always a battle against logic and rational thinking. As opposed to the gentleman who will be seeing us tomorrow.

Linky link link.

Einhander Sn0m4n · Post by **Einhander Sn0m4n** » 2004-02-07 01:48am

That's Hella Kewl, BEE!

Bug-Eyed Earl · Post by **Bug-Eyed Earl** » 2004-02-07 01:50am

I also know Alyrium Denryle played Father Roger in a production once; I started this thread as a PM to him but decided everyone should read it.

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2004-02-07 07:00pm

That kicks so much ass.

I had no idea how to really portray him seeing as I was going by the script alone, but tried my best to portray him how I picture most normal catholic priests.

In my experience, catholics in general tend to be the most warm and caring of christian groups, so I opted for the warm father-like clergymen.

It is a pleasure to know that I did even a small amount of justice to the real person.

On a side note, I am jealous that you met him in person.

Phelps almost came to our production... Sadly, he didnt. His appearance would only have made the message we were trying to get across all the more clear.

Straha · Post by **Straha** » 2004-02-07 07:07pm

Hey, do you have a link to the script online?

Bug-Eyed Earl · Post by **Bug-Eyed Earl** » 2004-02-07 07:26pm

Sorry, Straha; it's copyrighted.

You can find it on amazon.com, though.