Synopsis
Sampson Bellhammer is an Evangelical Christian Wrestler, who uses the glitz and fury of the wrestling ring as a soapbox to reach audiences with the Gospel. He presents his testimony in the form of onstage conversions of his defeated opponents, played by his loyal sidekick Jared Synakowski. The team is rounded out by Tasha Bednarek, the all-purpose roadie, groupie, and over-eager costume designer, and the three struggle each week, barely scraping by, to fulfill their God-given calling of sharing the good news with a hurting world.
One night, after the show, a masked stranger, Greg Phillips, divides the team with a proposal. He offers fame and fortune, and all it will cost is one fight. If Sampson will lose to Greg, just once, they can have it all. This puts Sampson’s faith to the test. Greg has clearly convinced Tasha and Jared with his promise of a TV deal, and even playing in Vegas, but Sampson, who has been called by God to win, cannot stomach losing to this shadowy opponent.
When they do fight, and Sampson does lose, he is forced to decide whether he will stay on with the team as the “heel”, the one pre-determined to lose each night in service to the story, or whether he will leave. His pride forces him to abandon the group, but his lack of real-world skills means he is not fit for any other life. He returns to patch things up, but is confronted by Greg, and exposed as a complete fraud. Sampson, ashamed and alone, is lost. Finally, after spending a night in the bathroom with no place else to go, he meets a strange old man who gives him the strength to return. God tells Sampson that he must battle the evil Greg, for eternity, or else the rest of the universe will be utterly destroyed. Sampson embraces this cosmic calling, and returns to the ring, engaging in supernatural battle, and as the lights fade, we know he will be fighting until his body wears out, and the next generation of heroes is ready to take his place.
Cast: 4 (3m; 1f)
Running Time: Approx. 110 min (one intermission)
Development History
Bellhammer was developed at Carnegie Mellon University as my thesis play for my MFA degree. It received readings with Trustus Theatre in Columbia, SC, and a workshop production at CMU (scheduled for February 2010.)
Sample
Coming soon.
Latest News and More Information
Click here to see all the latest news and posts about Bellhammer. For more information, please contact Dean directly.
