“A story which unabashedly celebrates the virtues, life and the sacredness of Catholic Christianity. Much needed in our woke world right now.”
At this stage of its genesis, Christine Helferty’s original musical aptly celebrates the virtues and life of conservative Catholic Christianity.
I say, “Bring it on! Bravo!”
It is increasingly essential for Catholic Christians to celebrate our identity in ways similar to how others in the world celebrate theirs. As Catholic Christians, we will do so lawfully.
Now that Past the Limit has had a chance to be performed in front of an audience, Helferty can take responses and begin to shape the show in the future. It’s a show that needs to be seen by as many Catholic Christians as possible.
According to artist Christine Helferty’s website, her original musical is a two-character production that lasts one hour. The story revolves around Jenn Kenney (played by Christine Helferty), a writer who is trying to escape the pain of an unfulfilled relationship. Daniel Fabbri (played by Dr. Mark Wilkinson) is an entrepreneur seeking hope. Jenn and Daniel have known each other for a long time, but their lives have taken them in different directions. After university, Jenn followed a man in hopes of building a permanent relationship, but unfortunately, it didn’t work out. She has now returned to her hometown to start anew and regain her spiritual well-being. Meanwhile, Daniel experienced a terrible accident that left him in a wheelchair for several years. He had to learn to walk again and relearn many aspects of life. As Jenn returns home, she searches for a sense of hopeful stability in her life, while Daniel expresses gratitude for being given a second chance at life. His faith in God has been restored.
When they reunite unexpectedly on the steps of St. Patrick’s Church—ten years after their lives first intersected—neither could imagine what was about to happen. An unexpected love story takes place that involves laughter, longing and the unimaginable heart of losing a child. Jenn and Daniel’s love story is not one of instant gratification based on satisfying someone else’s needs. Their story stems from Christian selflessness and sacrifice, qualities rarely found in people today.
Where do Jenn and Daniel find their strength? Through God. It is he who comes first in their relationship. That’s what Catholics are called to do first and foremost. Put God first. A tough ask, but Jenn and Daniel accomplish that task by the end of the story.
Tom Wigglesworth and John MacMillan-Jones have effectively utilized the space at the Peterborough Theatre Guild. Upstage center, there is an impressive façade of St. Patrick’s Church. Center stage, angled to the left, is a bar. In front of the bar, at the center stage, a bench and kneeler is representing the interior of St. Patrick’s Church. The lighting and sound design by Andrew Duncan, Abbey Duncan, and Hayley Griffin Montgomery come together to create a cohesive visual experience.
Pianist Janina Kraus underscores the dramatic tension needed in the songs. Stage Manager Anna Beresford maintains the one-hour running time of the show with precision.
Christine Helferty and Dr. Mark Wilkinson are charming as the lovebirds. They are the reason to see the show. You can’t help but root for them, and you want them to get together.
I have a few suggestions that hopefully will assist the creative team in moving Past the Limit to its next stage of development. Past the Limit could go forward with some changes.
First, it’s important to note that there is no Director or Music Director listed in the program. These roles are essential, as they provide valuable oversight during the production. For instance, there are some awkward blocking issues where Helferty and Wilkinson are staged in a single line, which detracts from the performance. Additionally, Helferty’s script could benefit from another review. A dramaturge or skilled proofreader could help eliminate some clunky dialogue. For example, using the phrase “My darling” to address someone feels outdated and is not something people typically say today, except perhaps characters like Victor from “The Young and the Restless.”
Past the Limit is not there yet, but with concerted effort and rewriting, it could be.
Final Comments: I hope the creative team will have the chance to present the show to other archdioceses in the province. At this stage, feedback is crucial to help the Limit reach its fullest potential. While it’s not there yet, with focused effort and some rewriting, it has the potential to shine.
More plays of this nature, please and thank you.
