A note to viewers: While
CityNews does not endorse the policies of Pastor Phelps, we think it's important you be able to judge his stance and his policies for yourself. We have therefore linked to his website from this story so those who choose to examine what he's saying can have a better look at his policies. Many may find his positions disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.
The play's the thing that has a controversial U.S. pastor in the middle of a theatrical protest.
A Toronto play based around anti-gay crusader Pastor Fred Phelps is set to open in T.O. Thursday night, but the provocative figure says he and members of his congregation will also be on hand to picket before the curtain rises.
"The Pastor Phelps Project" will be staged at Queen West watering hole
The Cameron House.
Phelps is the spiritual leader at Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas. He's also the man behind the website "
God Hates Fags" and is notorious for picketing funerals of gay men who died of AIDS.
Given all that history, many were surprised, others not so much at news the pastor would be heading to Toronto to picket the small local production.
Phelps' take on the play?
"'The Pastor Phelps Project' is a tacky bit of filthy sodomite propaganda, with no literary merit and zero redeeming social value, masquerading as legitimate theatre," read a statement on his website. "God hates Canada... land of the sodomites."
The playwright's response?
"All of the text in the play is actually drawn from speeches and quotes," Alistair Newton said. "I'm allowing him to indict himself."
Others are just hoping to avoid confrontation altogether.
"They're a group of people who bring so much hate everywhere they go," said Carey, an actor in the play. "So bringing them to Toronto makes me nervous."
For good reason? Only time will tell.
In the meantime, for more on the play and the controversy behind it, you can
click here.