by Macey Levin
Jay Sefton delivers a riveting performance in the powerful play Unreconciled at Chester Theatre Company. In his play, co-written with Mark Basquill, he assumes the roles of myriad characters in this one-man autobiographical play concerning his sexual abuse as a child by Father Tom, a popular priest. Jay’s father, who is speaking to us from the after-life, helps round out the story.
Born in the Irish Catholic section of Philadelphia, Sefton’s parents often invited Father Tom to dinner. The priest and young Jay would seemingly play-wrestle in the living room while the rest of the family was in the dining room. Often, Tom would lie on top of the boy for a period of time.
Summers, the priest would take a group of ten-year-old boys to a camp where he bought them beer to drink paving the way for an alcoholic future. In fact, in Jay’s speech at the top of the play he admits to being a reformed alcoholic.
A harrowing incident occurred when Jay was elected to play Jesus in the annual eighth grade passion play which Father Tom directed. When costume fittings were being made Tom took Jay to a private room and had him strip naked so that the loincloth, or, as Jay called it, the diaper, could be pinned together comfortably. This is where the sexual abuse took place.
We also meet other boys who had been victimized by the priest and whose lives as adults were a shambles. Mikey, one of Jay’s best friends, may or may not have committed suicide.
Jay Sefton in “Unreconciled”, a one-man play he wrote with Mark Basquill, directed by James Barry at the Chester Theatre Company. Photo courtesy of Chester Theatre Company. 
Jay Sefton in “Unreconciled”, a one-man play he wrote with Mark Basquill, directed by James Barry at the Chester Theatre Company. Photo courtesy of Chester Theatre Company. 
Jay Sefton in “Unreconciled”, a one-man play he wrote with Mark Basquill, directed by James Barry at the Chester Theatre Company. Photo courtesy of Chester Theatre Company. 
Jay Sefton in “Unreconciled”, a one-man play he wrote with Mark Basquill, directed by James Barry at the Chester Theatre Company. Photo courtesy of Chester Theatre Company. 
Jay Sefton in “Unreconciled”, a one-man play he wrote with Mark Basquill, directed by James Barry at the Chester Theatre Company. Photo courtesy of Chester Theatre Company. 
Jay Sefton in “Unreconciled”, a one-man play he wrote with Mark Basquill, directed by James Barry at the Chester Theatre Company. Photo courtesy of Chester Theatre Company. 
Jay Sefton in “Unreconciled”, a one-man play he wrote with Mark Basquill, directed by James Barry at the Chester Theatre Company. Photo courtesy of Chester Theatre Company. 
Jay Sefton in “Unreconciled”, a one-man play he wrote with Mark Basquill, directed by James Barry at the Chester Theatre Company. Photo courtesy of Chester Theatre Company. 
Jay Sefton in “Unreconciled”, a one-man play he wrote with Mark Basquill, directed by James Barry at the Chester Theatre Company. Photo courtesy of Chester Theatre Company. 
The play is obviously a condemnation of the Church’s role in the abuse and the need for awareness by the hierarchy. A line from Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman is repeated several times… “Attention must be paid.” At the end of the play we are informed that millions of dollars have been given to victims and that several states have counseling organizations, but not Pennsylvania.
Sefton’s performance is engrossing as he relates and re-enacts the manifold incidents and conversations. He moves from character to character in an instant, changing the physicality, voice and speech pattern so that they all come alive; however, he is straightforward as he tells of his own horrendous experience.
James Barry, one of Chester’s co-producing artistic directors, has had input in the creation of the script which was workshopped last year. His direction of the play is smooth and tight, while also finding humor amidst the ugliness of the experience. He has wisely resisted melodrama which would have weakened the production’s impact.
It is played on a bare stage with a chair, a stage-wide blackboard, a television set and a blank wall for projections. Moving the chair from place to place changes locations. Sefton writes dates on the blackboard so that the audience knows the time of the various incidents. The TV is used to show actual occurrences and re-enactments of his childhood. The projections, designed by Nicholas Hussong, complement Sefton’s narrative. James McNamara’s lighting is atmospheric and dramatic adding a subtle texture to the story line.
Once again, Chester Theatre Company offers a powerful production of an exceptional and intense piece of theatre.
Unreconciled by Jay Sefton and Mark Basquill; Director: James Barry; Cast: Jay Sefton; Set/Projection Design: Nicholas Hussong; Lighting Design:James McNamara; Sound Design: Nathan Leigh; Assistant Sound/Projection Designer: Wynn MacKenzie; Stage Manager: Mark Johnson; Assistant Stage Manager: Ellie Berman; Running Time: One hour, twenty minutes, no intermission; July 4-14, 2024; For information call 413-354-7770 or visit www.chestertheatre.org