Apostasy

Apostasy

Apostasy

Apostasy

Overview

Sheila Gold, 55, a successful Jewish businesswoman suffering from terminal cancer, is spending the end of her life in a comfortable hospice where her only companion is her 30 year old daughter, Rachel. The two have a tense relationship as Rachel has spent most of her adult life working at Planned Parenthood and is generally a disappointment to her entrepreneurial mother.

While in the hospice Sheila has become fascinated by a late night televangelist, Dr. Julian Strong, a black man in his 50's. She finds his message inspiring and comforting and she writes Strong, offering to make a sizable donation to his ministry. Much to her surprise, Strong flies out to visit Sheila, presumably to see her sign the check in person. His physical presence is even greater than his TV persona and the two fall head over heels in love. Sheila begins to toy with the idea of converting to Christianity and spending her final days with Strong's church in California. This revelation upsets her daughter to no end as Rachel is certain that Strong is a crook, promising hope and salvation, when all he really wants is to come between her and her inheritance.

Is Strong truly in love with Sheila or is he only out for her money? Sheila must choose between her daughter and a new love and lifestyle, in what will certainly be her final days.

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Cautions

  • Caution Mild Adult Mild Adult Themes

Details

  • Time Period: Contemporary, Present Day
  • Target Audience: Adult

Authors

Gino DiIorio

Gino DiIorio is a playwright and professor of theatre at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. His plays include: The Jag (winner, 2010 Firehouse Theatre’s Great American New Play Award; finalist, 2011 Laurents Hatcher Award Competition and 2010 Kean University Premie ...

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