Theater review: The Matter of Frank Schaefer
Please note: This article is published as an archive copy from Philadelphia City Paper. My City Paper is not affiliated with Philadelphia City Paper. Philadelphia City Paper was an alternative weekly newspaper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The last edition was published on October 8, 2015.
"For most of us, the "right side" here is a no-brainer."
The cast of "The Matter of Frank Schaefer"
Curio Theatre
Curio Theatre
The facts are fairly simple — “Frocked, Defrocked, Re-frocked!” might headline an article about Frank Schaefer, a Methodist minister in eastern Pennsylvania. But, as they say, God is in the details, and they come to life in Curio’s docudrama The Matter of Frank Schaefer, an imperfect but heartfelt and touching exploration of a real-life local incident with a global message.
In 2013, Schaefer was the defendant in a church trial based on a complaint from a parishioner — that the minister had defied church doctrine by presiding over the same-sex marriage of his son, Tim. It probably seemed an uncomplicated case — Schaefer never denied having performed the ceremony — but there were questions. In fact, the marriage had taken place quite a while before, and the motivation for bringing the charge was unclear.
A group of artists from Curio Theatre followed the story. Paul Kuhn, in an appealing performance, plays Schaefer; five additional actors portray the many supporting characters.
For most of us, the “right side” here is a no-brainer, and it’s clear from the start where the writer and performers’ allegiances lie. Still, to their credit, they at least gesture at presenting both sides, as they include the despairing testimony of the original complainant, who feels deserted in his faith.
Schaefer’s story could hardly be more current — in fact, its happy final outcome, which upholds his reinstatement, occurred less than a month ago. Perhaps this is one reason the production’s final sequence feels rushed. There is some bumpiness throughout, and some of it looked under-rehearsed.
But I’m not sure that’s a bad thing. For me, The Matter of Frank Schaefer has something more important going for it. It’s a community effort and clearly a labor of love. Ultimately, that shines more powerfully than anything else.
Through Dec. 6, $25, Curio Theatre Co., 4740 Baltimore Ave., 215-525-1350, curiotheatre.org.
