Play Casts Priest in a More Favorable Light

Father Jeff Deikel hasn’t performed on stage for more than two decades, but the Roman Catholic parish priest was more than willing to take a part in a high school production if it meant showing priests and teens in a positive light.

At a time when sex abuse scandals are plaguing the Catholic Church, Deikel said his appearance in St. Genevieve High School’s production of the musical “Little Shop of Horrors,” which begins a three-day run tonight, could provide a counterbalance to the negative image of pedophile priests.

“I’m sure that some people are looking over their shoulders and wondering about clergy and minors, but that has not been the overwhelming attitude,” Deikel said. “This is a wonderful, positive opportunity to work with such talented young people.”

As a speech and theater arts major at Catholic University in Washington, Deikel won roles in campus shows, dinner theater and children’s plays, but ended his acting career after becoming a priest in 1976.

St. Genevieve Principal Dan Horn learned about Deikel’s theatrical background after the priest was assigned to the Panorama City parish five years ago, but saw little of his dramatic flair other than during Sunday homilies.

Saddened by news reports of priests who had victimized children, Horn wanted to do something to show that the number of good priests far outweighs the bad and asked theater teacher Nain Doporto to cast Deikel as the oppressive flower shop owner Mr. Mushnik.

“We want to send a message that there are priests doing great things that too often go unnoticed while we concentrate on that very small percentage of tragic incidents,” Horn said.

Although Doporto liked Horn’s idea, he wasn’t exactly sure how an adult would fit in with the teenage cast and crew.

“I am pretty stringent when it comes to casting,” Doporto said. “Teachers and parents ask me all the time if there is a spot for them in the play and I tell them I want everything to be done by the kids.”

But Deikel won over Doporto at the first rehearsal in December when he established an immediate rapport with the students, especially Kevin Villalta, 16, with whom Deikel has a show-stopping duet.

“I was a bit nervous at first because I look up to him and I want my parish priest to have a good impression of me,” Kevin said. “But it all went away as soon as we started rehearsing.”

If anyone had concerns about the scandals, Kevin said they’re of little consequence now. “Father Jeff has eased all of those worries because he has been so great with us and for the show.”

Deikel admits that preparing for the musical has added yet another layer of responsibilities to his already packed schedule, but he has his own way of dealing with the stress: “I say a few extra prayers.”