On Sunday Afternoon, Appropriately Enough, We Saw "Communion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                              Back in 2021, a teacher who lived in an area of Woodside, different from where I once lived, was fired from his job as church music director and parochial schoolteacher for posting on Facebook pictures of his gay wedding.  He was fired by the Brooklyn diocese!!!!!!!!!!!

                             By story and song, performer Matt Labanca chronicles his struggles throughout all this, making his case a cause celebre for gay rights, when the story went national.  Passion and feeling abound throughout his performance; I mean darlings, not since Jennifer Jones..........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            It is amazing to me that Labanca still practices Catholicism.  But then why shouldn't he?  If the church can't get with it, it is time to change.  Which while Labanca does not deliver a seething agenda, that message permeates his presentation.

                              As a performer, he is warm and wonderful, and I can see why colleagues and students loved him.  I hope he finds a venue to practice his gifts again soon.

                              Two things.  The day we were there was special, because the performance was being filmed. By whom, I do not know.  I do know we sat right up front, so if we end up in this film, who knows, this could be my Lana Turner moment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               The other thing is while I, being a married gay man, support Labanca, and I do not do Facebook, if I did, I am not sure I would put on something that might compromise me.  For all the rights of self-expression I support him on, Labanca took a big risk on posting that on here.  Unfortunately, the wrong person saw it and ran with it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 I urge you to see "Communion" before it closes.  Or perhaps it will be performed on PBS.

                                  Kudos to director Kira Simring, who keeps things flowing smoothly and with moving force!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   The show is for everyone, darlings!  Not just Catholics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!