Deliverance, DL challenge Christian theatrics

Two new theatrical offerings are exploring homosexuality. Based on the information I have received, one is sort of good the other is sort of bad.

Sodom and Gomorrah"Provoked by temptation, a tumultuous affair is about to begin, and it will burn as deep as the desires that brought it to life. Michael Gooden is a God- fearing man who has been married for eighteen years. He has a wonderful wife and two teenage children. But one day he is cornered by an ultimatum that will unleash the desires pent up inside of him. Michael begins an affair that has him torn between guilt and desire and right and wrong. MichaelÂ’s wife Sarah is blindsided by his affair. Throughout her struggle to deal with the truth she must find a way to maintain her sanity and strengthen her children for the fiery events ahead. She holds on to her faith amidst the turmoil that plagues her family and her church. Michael abandons his church, family, and home for his new life with his lover Jimmy. His one choice sets off a firestorm of events that will consume everyone in its path."

[SEE UPDATE]

"Once Upon a Dream is about a young man who is a struggling closet homosexual, who has grown up within the African-American church. It is a story of this man's struggle with his sexuality on a personal level, amongst his family, his church, as well as his friends. With a message of unconditional love and deliverance through Christ, compassion, intolerance and awareness, it is our desire to reach the lives of individuals directly or indirectly affected by this issue."

I am inclined to give this offering a more favorable nod. One, there seems at least to be a redemptive element in the play although I'm not sure specifically what that is. I'm assuming this young black man does at some point in the play find "deliverance" and a healthy balance for his post homosexual struggle, but as the director Khristi Adams told me, "Once Upon a Dream was never designed to be an end all. It is an artistic piece from a professional company in which we desire to do ministry, but we also realize that a significant amount will take place offstage."
That's true, a play can't possibly show the full range of the struggle or the deliverance process, but it can be a good beginning at helping the audience to understand that. People who can't understand that usually think that overcoming homosexuality is a black and white experience or they think that its not possible at all. Hopefully, "Dream" can help change some of that thinking.

Like "Sodom and Gomorrah", the cast of "Dream" does not portray a diversity of people. Perhaps the producers of "Dream" wanted to tell the story of this young black man in his element which may very well mean that his circles of relationships andacquaintancess are all black people. Good, bad or reality, you decide. Adams, a graduate of Temple University is excited about the play which is running in New Jersy at this time. "We have progressed tremendously opening our show at Crossroads Theater in New Brunswick, NJ this July. The press that it has generated in this area has been overwhelming as tickets will be going on sale next week."

INFO

Sodom and Gomorrah (movie) adultery, "dl" situations;no release date;

Once Upon a Dream (stage play) black audiences; showing now at the Crossroads Theater 7 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ.