Fame's Flames Debuts Outside the Wall



Diane (on the left), Cathi (on the right) and Dave are dressed in black while the purple shirts are some of the men from the Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing residents who participated in Fame's Flames presentation at Trinity Wesleyan Church in Dover, Delaware on May 20, 2012

About 15 men from Dover (DE) Interfaith Misson for Housing a.k.a. homeless shelter joined us at Trinity Weselyan Church yesterday morning to minister through audio theatre. Five of the 15 held speaking parts in "Fame's Flames" -- a 40-minute audio play involving two women in a prison family support group who held distinctly different opinions about a television crew's plans to chronicle their stories on film. When the film crew entered the prison, the husbands' viewpoints effected significant changes on the outcome.  During the one-hour presentation (opening comments, song, audio play, song, and closing mime) there was absolute silence. That can be a bit disconcerting because you're not sure how to read the audience. Not even a chuckle during the amusing bits! The inmates laughed . . . but the congregation was as quiet as a mouse. As the final notes to Go Light Your World faded, the congregation stood as they applauded. After the pastor addressed the men and presented a donation to the shelter, a woman rushed down the aisle to meet us. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. "My husband robbed banks," she said. "I've been there. I was right there with those two women in the play . . . "