Queer shows at the Fringe that intersect with the artist’s religious upbringing aren’t usually joyous spectacles. Refreshingly, US comedian Michael John Ciszewski apparently emerged relatively unscathed from his spiritual education. In fact, even though he is of Greek Orthodox extraction, he’s been left with a gay man’s appreciation for fabulous Catholic accoutrements, and also the unshakeable belief that his beloved mother Sophie should be canonised as a living saint. What follows in a hearfelt and entertaining hybrid of spoken word and stand-up comedy, albeit one that is a little treakly and overly earnest given its claim towards sacrilege.

The show takes the form of Ciszewski petitioning God to grant his wish for Sophie to achieve sainthood. This is done through phone calls with Luigi, a representative of the Vatican (played by fellow New York-based comic Gianmarco Soresi, with an outrageous accent that suggests every day is Dolmio Day) who insists Michael John provides evidence of Sophie’s holiness in a six-step process which includes providing evidence of a holy life, and proof of two miracles ascribed to the candidate.

It has to said, ‘Mother Superior’ is going to gain most traction with the LGBTQ+ community, those whose mothers has bungee cords for apron straps, or both. Ciszeswki’s stage persona is flamboyant and high camp throughout, albeit with much of the expected snark that comes with US camp comedy filed away. It’s almost like he felt that ‘Mother, Superior’ is so hearfelt that a more arch comic approach would undermine the message.

And, to be fair, Sophie does sound pretty amazing. Devoted, accepting, unfailingly supportive. Through the calls with the Super Mario Cleric, we learn that Ma Ciszewski began her long career as a registered nurse (the ‘registered’ part is very important) on the frontlines of the AIDS/ HIV epidemic. This is where the story takes flight and finds the emotional stakes that the rest of this rather frothy show lacks. It draws a direct parallel between Sophie’s life to Ciszewski’s experience as an out gay man, through a horrendous, shameful period of recent history. It’s powerfully told, Michael John almost shivering with justified pride. It’s just a shame the rest of the show never again matches that intensity.

Ultimately, ‘Mother, Superior’ absolutely achieves it aim; a very public comic love letter from a boy to his mother, though that probably scans as more Norman Bates-y than it should. The structure is, at times, a little forced, although the phone calls with the Vienetta Vatican are consistently amusing. But Ciszewski has a neat turn of phrase (see the show’s title for a good example), and love for a pun that implies a fondness for some old-school British humour somewhere in his comedy education. Never screamingly funny, but also never dull, ‘Mother Superior’ is a decent hour from a talented performer, but you can’t help but wonder how Michael John Ciszewski would go down with some material with a bit more bite.

‘Mother, Superior‘ is at Auditorium at Bedlam Theatre until Sun 30 Aug 2026