Coleman Shedman (Michael Barnett) is having a bad morning. He wakes up on the floor with a bad hangover. Moments later he discovers the furniture gone. As the brain fog clears, he can't find his wife nor his cherished old pick-up truck. Yes, Coleman's day does not start out well. He hoofs it into town, finally finding his wife, Nancy (Melanie Sutherlin), praising the Lord at the fellowship hall. A confrontation ensues. Plus, this is a day of worship, and the parishioners begin to arrive.
Thus begins Romulus Linney's Holy Ghosts, the current offering of the Sullivan Players at Swendenborgian Hall. The action is in a rural Southern church of true believers who take their religion seriously. Yes, they praise the lord with great energy. It's true that the Holy Ghost may enter their bodies, causing them to roll on the floor in ecstasy. The altar does contain a jar of highly poisonous liquid, and in front of it is a box of poisonous snakes. A true believer would not be harmed by either.
Holy Ghosts could be played as camp, over the top. Director and teacher D. J. Sullivan, however, treats each of the parishioners respectfully, honestly. They are all people with a deep faith and express that faith in their own particular fashion.
The preacher, Obediah Buckhorn, Sr. (Joe Nesnow) encourages a freedom of expression, for even he is not above moments of profanity. He is aware of the frailty of humankind. He dislikes Coleman but welcomes him into the church. He has good reason to feel unkind towards Coleman; he is, after all, in the process of convincing Nancy to marry him.
Coleman feels that divorce is the only answer and hires retired lawyer Rodgers Canfield (Alan Lewis, with Timothy Carr playing the final weekend). He gets side-tracked.
Strapping Obediah (Oby) Buckhorn Jr. (Adam Marcinowski), the preacher's son, hides the truth from everybody. Lorena Cosburg (Lucy Ann Albert), a first-time visitor, discovers truth in the church. Carl Specter (Shawn Farrell) has a sad love story.
Holy Ghosts is a morality play and so much more. The set, by Marie Miller, Jean Lievens, and Tim Simoneau, is a simple plain church hall with hard, wooden backless benches. A small keyboard and a guitar provide the music.
Bonnie Bridge (Kate Cruz) has received the Lord through a very active libido and gives the audience some completely audacious moves. Muriel and Bill Boggs (Miriam Neigus and Christopher Hickey) recently married and recently parents, have their own secret a very sad one. Kevin Six is a parishioner with cancer, to whom everybody gives solace.
Virgil Tides (Harrison Myers) has a very special talent, as does Mrs. Wall (Jo-Darlene Reardon). The congregation accepts Orin Hart and Howard Rudd (Tom Walker and Michael Bova), even though they are openly gay. Holy Ghosts is a very funny play. We are laughing with them or sometimes at the situation Coleman is in. Watching the transition in Coleman is a credit to Barnett's talent. Sutherlin's silent reaction to the reality of the preacher is a wonderful study. Each actor developed a totally convincing portrayal of his character and that character's special traits.
The mix of seasoned actors and tyros brings out the very best in everybody. D. J. Sullivan, whom I've known for over 40 years, has provide the San Diego film and theater community with qualified talent all those years. Many top stars had their beginnings with her. And one can never forget her appearances in all four of the
Killer Tomatoes trilogy.
