100 Saints You Should Know

When I first started going to Pacific Theatre years ago, I remember thinking that I wasn't going to enjoy myself since I was not a religious person, did not know much about the Bible, and that all their shows were preachy and trying to convert me. True enough, their shows do have a common thread of religion in it, but a friend of mine who loves their work explained it to me that it wasn't religious theatre, but redemptive theatre. With that in mind, I started appreciating the addition they make to the Vancouver theatre scene. Not only is their work poignant and thoughtful, but production-wise, they are definitely a force to be reckoned with!



The final show of their season, 100 Saints You Should Know, shows off all of Pacific Theatre's wonderful attributes with quality acting and a penchant for choosing works that appeal to their target audience as well as to the general public.

100 Saints follows the story of a young priest, who is conflicted and struggling with issues of faith and sexuality. Dismissed from the church after having been caught with nude art prints of male models, he returns home to his zealous mother, with whom his relationship is equally as challenging. Intertwining into this mix is a neighbourhood boy dealing with being gay, and a mother/daughter pair who at first seem at odds with one another, but whose bond grows deeper after a turn of events.

The entire cast did a superb job, tickling the audience's funny bone in one scene, then breaking our hearts in the next. Gold stars go to Rebecca deBoer (as Theresa) and Joel Stephanson (as Father McNally).

I liked how the characters were presented initially as possibly one-dimensional, only to have them develop into the underlying layers that you know are there inside all of us. At the end of the day, I found the show to be a love letter to mothers, the bonds they have with their children, and unconditional love. This is the perfect play just in time for Mother's Day!

100 Saints You Should Know is one you should see! Now on until May 26 at the Pacfic Theatre. And don't forget to check out their upcoming 2012-2013 season, which looks like it has lots of goodies in store for us!