Elmer Gantry - Excerpts

A Reader's Theatre adaptation of the classic novel
Directed by Dr. Kelly S. Taylor

Sinclair Lewis’ 1926 bitingly satirical novel about sinner-turned-evangelist Elmer Gantry caused waves of controversy when it was published. The book was banned in Boston. It was roundly denounced from the pulpits of those it targeted. There were even suggestions that the author be jailed for having dared to peel back the thin veil of hypocrisy concealing the sort of lives led by heartless grifters who ran the American’s booming religion industry in the early 20^th century.

Although the work was far too expansive to capture fully in a hour and a half show, I tried to capture the essence of the novel by focusing my adaption on scenes that walked Elmer through each of the churches at which he had some sort of pivotal experience. These experiences centered on one of the significant women in his life. Although in each of these episodes Elmer seems to have a liminal moment in which he grows and perhaps mature, my overall goal was to show the audience was to demonstrate that the more he seemed to change, the more he stayed the same old narcissistic, cynical, self-serving Elmer.

^1. Elmer’s Conversion – Elmer goes from a hell-raising college athlete to an aspiring Baptist minister after one memorable service.

^2. Lulu Baines – Elmer’s first ministerial assignment is marred by a close brush with the business end of a shotgun wedding.

^3. Sharon Falconer – While working as a traveling salesman, Elmer meets, falls in love, works for, and has an affair with a charismatic female evangelist.

^4. Elmer Marries – Elmer returns to the ministry and finds the perfect minister’s wife, Cleo Benham.

^5. The Church at Zenith

^6. The Affair with Hettie Dowler – Elmer’s perfect secretary (and mistress) turns out to be a perfect blackmail artist. Elmer must find a way to survive the scandal and redeem himself in the public eye.

Prosperous Parishoners: The climactic meeting of the Annual Prayer Week addressed by Terwilliger College’s President, Dr. Quarles, four ministers, and a trustee who was in the pearl-button business, with Judson Roberts as star soloist, was held at the largest auditorium in town, the Baptist Church.

Elmer: Elmer hoped to be late enough to creep in inconspicuously, but as his mother and he straggled up to the Romanesque portico, students were still outside chattering. He was certain they were whispering

Female Student: Say, is it really true he’s under the conviction of sin? I thought he cussed out the church more’n anybody in college.”

Elmer: Elmer looked at his critics defiantly. “I’ll show ‘em! If they think I’m going to sneak in…”

Elmer’s Mother: to the joy of his mother, who had been afraid that as usual he would hide in the rear, handy to the door if the preacher should become personal.

Elmer: Five minutes later Elmer would not have had a seat down front. Now he could not escape. He was packed in between his mother and a wheezing fat man, and in the aisle beside his pew stood evangelical tailors and ardent school-teachers.

Elmer: Elmer in articulately began to feel his community with these humble aspiring people – his own prairie tribe. Could he resist the current of their united belief and longing? (Back)

Sharon: “Oh, it was wonderful! Honestly, I almost cried myself! Elmer it was just fine!”

Elmer: “Didn’t I get ‘em? Didn’t I get ‘em? Say, Sharon, I’m so glad it went over, because it was your show and I wanted to give you all I Sharon Falconer and Elmer Gantry

could!”

Sharon: “Not very much. I can’t like anyone very much. But I do like you. Some day I might fall in love with you. A tiny bit. If you don’t rush me too much. But only physically. No one can touch my soul.”

Sharon: “I can’t sin! I am above sin! I am really and truly sanctified, with me God will turn it to his glory. I can kiss you like this – Yes, or passionately, terribly passionately, and it would only symbolize my complete union with Jesus! I have told you a mystery. You can never understand. But you can serve me. Would you like to?”

Elmer: “Yes, I would… but don’t you need arms like these around you, just now and then, defending you?

Sharon: “Perhaps. But I’m not to be hurried. I am I! It is I who choose! I can do anything I want to! God chose me to do his work. I am the reincarnation of Joan of Arc, of Catherine of Sienna! I have visions! God talks to me! I said once that I hadn’t the brains to rival the men evangelists. Lies! False modesty! They are God’s message, but I am God’s right hand!”

Elmer: “My God, she’s crazy!” Elmer thought, but he did not care. He would give it all up to follow her. (Back)

Earnest Mother: Mornings he announced he would give them solid religious meat to sustain them through the week.

Future Mistress: but Sunday evenings he would provide them the best cream puffs.

Cynical Parishioner: There was a safe, conservative sanguinary hymn or two at his Lively Sunday Evenings.

Enthusiastic Young Couple: but most of the time they were just happy boys and girls together. (Back)

Elmer: “Your—“ Elmer’s cry was the bleat of a bitten sheep. “Your – But you aren’t married! Elmer and Hattie

Hettie: “I am. Oscar, you get out of here! How dare you intrude like this!”

Oscar: “Yeh – I bet he has… This afternoon I bribed my way in here, and I’ve got all his letters to you. Now, Gantry, this ought to cost you about fifty thousand dollars, but I don’t suppose you can afford that much. But if I sue for alienation of Hettie’s affections that’s the amount I’ll sue for. But if you want to settle out of court in a nice gentlemanly manner, I’ll let you off for ten thousand…”

Elmer gaped after the departing Oscar. He turned quickly and caught Hettie grinning.

Hettie: “What of it, you big lummox! We’ve got the goods on you. Your letters will sound lovely in court! Now get out of here! I’m sick of hearing your blatting! No, I don’t think you’d better hit me. Oscar’ll be waiting outside the door. Sorry I won’t be able to be at church tomorrow – don’t worry about my things or my salary – I got ‘em this afternoon!” (Back)