Priests and gays. The combination is a touchy one (pun fully intended). This is what makes Mass Appeal so, well, appealing.

Penned by playwright Bill C Davis, the play originally premiered on Broadway in 1972, presenting a young bisexual seminarian’s (played by Austin Scales) expulsion from the church and his subsequent relationship with a charming but close-minded priest (played by Jay Shultz).

Shultz, a Catholic priest from Pennsylvania, convinced his church to remount the Tony Award–winning play. “I first saw the play on Broadway and thought it was one of the funniest and most touching plays I have ever seen,” he says, “and I still feel that way! It’s both fun and serious in equal proportions, and it is fun to bring the characters to life.”

Shultz is so passionate about the production that he has brought it all the way to Toronto. “Although it has been over 30 years since the play appeared on Broadway, its themes are timeless. The same prejudices that existed three decades ago have not been overcome.” But Shultz is hopeful. “The audience will leave feeling good about the future.” — Matt Eger

Mass Appeal runs Wed, Aug 29 and Thurs, Aug 30 at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander St. buddiesinbadtimes.com