While a great deal of attention and interest has been focused on Alex Gibney’s scientology documentary, let’s not forget the rave reviews for Allen Barton’s Disconnection.
Every person I know who has attended absolutely raves about it. I was very bummed to discover that there was no performance on any of the nights I was in LA last week. I am hoping it is such a success that it gets a much deserved wider release.
Here is a sampling of press reaction:
Barton is a clever enough writer to keep his audience fiercely attentive… And he’s fortunate in having a director, Joel Polis, who has cast actors fine enough to keep the characters human…. Carter Scott’s Tess is the play’s glowing conscience… Robert L. Hughes’ Oldman is a perfect gem of a performance, and Everette Wallin’s Chairman is so wrong-headed and smug, one wants to throttle him… —LA Stage Raw
A very strong cast… certainly not what anyone would have ever expected to see at the Beverly Hills Playhouse… —LAist
Potent and provocative…. Superb. —PJ Media
Groundbreaking… This is a play worth seeing because it is a play to open the mind to how religious extremism can blind even those with the greatest intent. —LA Examiner
Thought-provoking… a powerful indictment of contemporary religious intrusion into personal lives… not [to] be missed… Carter Scott is exceptional… Luke Cook is perfect… Everette Wallin is frightening… Barton need to be commended for so ably telling this disturbing and pertinent story. —Hollywood Revealed
A powerful production…. Robert L. Hughes ably humanizes his demonized character… —Broadway World
A riveting two hours… the production is a powerful indictment of the dark side of dedication to a Church, its doctrines and its intrusions into personal relationships… A relentless, gut-wrenching expose… The entire cast and production team of “DISCONNECTION” deserve special mention, with extra-special kudos to Playwright Allen Barton and skillful director Joel Polis for giving us this incredible play. —LA Splash
If you live anywhere near Los Angeles, make the time to go and see this play. Encourage your friends and family to attend. You will be supporting the fight against the abusive practice of disconnection.
Thoughts re disconnection:
https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRQAvqd4BfpoFtukQjF1j-cDdEekcre-tjE-HYZ2REdA24x89ByLw
I just have to validate what “Aquamarine says…” above. What a great summary of equality of beingness for all, many thanks.
I copied that to notebook and if you don’t mind I’ll post that to a few people who really need to appreciate that not all viewpoints have to be “an absolute” or have to strictly comply to another’s experiences – life just doesn’t respond very well to domination, it’s needs to breathe a little.
2nd that!!!
Greta
3rd that! So well expressed Aquamarine, thank you.
Thank you all for the welcome guys. Never fear,that the sawn off little bastard Captain Blatant Macsausage is gonna be at the mercy of some Scouse wit and satire in the coming weeks. Decimating families on a whim is just abhorrent. Mike Rinder, it’s an honour posting on your site Blue.
Oh, nothing like a Scouser! Though I’ve met some damned funny Geordies too… The Kop rules.
I’m having trouble posting tonight . I’ve wrote a detailed post initially addressed to Coop but the submit icon seems to covered by a blank block which says Mike Rinders Blog. Sorry guys, I’ll persevere though. I’m a never in Coop.
This man is so smart and makes the most intelligent posts and adds so much. He is currently on hiatus at Tony’s site – but everyone misses his insights. I sure know I do.
No, I’m not on hiatus from Ortega’s. I’m banned from there. Subtle yet profound difference.
Your compliments, though, are taken with the appropriate level of embarrassment from this end.
Welcome, Jay! Nice to have you here.
I dreamed that there was a new reality show, that had the actual players, Tom Cruise, Travolta, Miscavige, Alley, etc, etc, all rehearsing an upcoming big mea culpa Scientology self made movie of their very own lives.
The only way out for these people is play their own lives, in a movie about their lives. And then all quit.
They could bill the reality show as “Cruise playing Tom Cruise Mr. Keeping Scientology Working. David Miscavige playing Chairman of the Board Scientology. Kirstie Alley playing herself…”, etc, etc.
And the final episode, they all quit.
PS guys
I have been reluctant to post as I’m not a scientologist but I have put the effort in to learn the subject matter including the tech, admin and policies. I’ve also looked into the history, the main people and the acronyms even Coops CICSMFAHS = Counter Intentioned C*ck Sucking Mother F*cking Arse Holes. Right Coop? The effort for that last one alone should secure me a membership! Lol.
Ahhh, thank you, thank you!
I knew it was some kind of below the belt line verbage and left it at that but it is sure good to know
what it meant in details.
Welcome Jay, you are alright!
Greta
You’ve done well SUAV!
Huh….SUAV?
Help!
G
Hiya guys,
I’d like to ask your blessing to join this great little community please. After two months reading posts I feel like I know you all personally and I’d be honoured to call anyone of you a friend.
Thanks
Jay.
Welcome, Jay.
Hello… mind the mess and make yourself at home.
Jay, here is your official Catholic Latin blessing:
In nomine Patris et fillii et Spiritus Sancti
Just say “Amen” after this and you’re officially in!
Seriously, you’re more than welcome. Great to have you here….
Welcome Jay! How are things in straightupandvertical land?
Are you a never been in, always been in or somewhere in the middle? Sorry for all the questions but you caught me at curious moment!
Wow! Best of luck to that production, I hope it goes far and wide. It has received rave reviews from in and amongst to ex-Scngst websites as far I’ve seen, and that is a good thing.
The make believe world of miscavige’s $cn with its brutal & demonistic enforcement of suppression upon it’s own members is something that needs as much sunshine and disinfectant as possible.
Calling a spade a spade sure takes some repetition for the truth to get through – miscavige has been up to that shit for years.
Well done Allen & Joel.
https://scontent-a-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/s526x395/10375120_10152852902922819_24777841281501259_n.png?oh=c0be1a44dc9c715527e54f17876b3663&oe=556BF33D
@thegman77: All due respect, but does status really matter if one cares about a severe case of abuse? I’m a never in (scientology) but I’m a cult survivor (14-17) and a twice escapee. It doesn’t take a Scientologist to recognize indoctrination, unlawful detention, or desperation. It also doesn’t take Matlock to read that depo and know this guy is lying, and that girl was a hostage.
+100
And soon, Louis Theroux’s BBC doc. Three strikes.
Who knows, maybe those in authority might even undertake to exercise their appointed duties.
#!sub.: I wonder how Louis’ unusual style of making documentaries will suit the subject of scientology. For those not familiar he generally goes into a subject and spends time alongside them with a disarming charm and lets them talk. You can form your own opinion – he comes over as non judgemental, asking almost naive questions and letting the subjects portray their view of the world. He does this while having a genuine and human care for them even if they are stuck in some kind of warped activity. This has worked with the Westboro Baptist Church, where the women and kids of the church seemed to enjoy opening up to him, but Gramps (the male sadist that founded the outfit) clearly did not. He has done shows about addicted Las Vagas gamblers, hard core prisoners with male “wives” behind the bars, conspiracy theorists and other misfits. He doesn’t normally spend time with their enemies and is not combative. So theoretically he should give scientologists their time to shine through with how they really feel about their religion and what’s going on. Somehow though I don’t think this is going to work with the paranoid individuals in COS. They will be scared to give their personal opinions lest they be sec checked as soon as they go near the org. again. I’d love to hear him asking TC how he feels about all the intrigue of COS interference in his marriages but somehow I can’t see it happening.
Best of luck Louis – you are one of the best.
The critics are spot on – it opens the mind on how a so called religion can even entice those with good intent. Even if is two hours, it is so well played that it seems only half an hour went by.
There is a characterization of a high rank exec that perfectly duplicated what really occurs inside the ‘elite’.
I believe they are going to be touring to other states, so keep an eye on your area and definitely go and see it; you will be glad you did.
Silvia is talking about the play now showing at the Beverly Hills Playhouse called, “Disconnection.” I agree, go and see it. You will be glad you did.
By the way, Bystander, you never mention if you were a Never In, though your chosen name would indicate that is the situation. In which case, my friend, you really don’t KNOW anything about scio, but just KNOW ABOUT, an entirely different kettle of fish.
Ah, the Fallacy of Appeal To Authority raises its ugly head again. “Only a Scientologist can know anything about Scientology” is a statement that’s been discredited so many times it’s a wonder that people still stick to it.
Come up with another argument. There’s too much information out there these days about what Scientology is about to claim that a well-studied never-in can not know anything about the subject.
Espi – please come back and post at the Bunker too
I see your point Espi but I do think thegman77 has a valid point too, of the uniqueness of the first hand experience. When one has “skin in the game”, ie, paid their money, got some auditing, talked about personal things and had meaningful gains from their point of view, it is different. I used to have in depth philosophical discussions with a born again Christian. We were both very interested and I got a really good reality on the born again experience, but it’s never happened to me. I think we all can attest that when we do something ourselves, that it deepens the experience and conversely, we have all had the experience, that someone does not understand what it’s like to be in our shoes.
You can read all about sex but that is not the same as having sex. I think that is the point being made. You can read all you want about Scientology, all about auditing but if you have not been well audited and resolved some issue in the blink of an eye, which does happen sometimes, it will be hard to fathom the lengths and craziness that people will go to “protect their religion” or the amount of subjective improvement in one’s outlook and happiness that auditing can deliver.
Clearly never in. I usually try to be sympathetic to the travails of people trying to work themselves out of the morass. But when I see stuff like this and all the other hideous things, I simply cannot give a pass to people who have been part of it in any way because it all came from the same ‘source’ which (theoretically) cannot be questioned or changed. I’ll feel better tomorrow and probably be more polite. But for today, not so much.
Bystander or anyone else who reads and learns about Scientology has the right to express their thoughts. They don’t have to necessarily be an expert on the subject. Some of us trained and audited for years and yet we still may not consider ourselves to be “experts”. It may just come down to a life experience that we can share. Don’t read the comments that bother you or that you don’t agree with and allow people to contribute what they will. The Blog will be the better for it, although I’m sure there are many who would not agree with this. Mike is the host, he sets pace and he knows what he’s doing.
Perfectly captured my philosophy Pepper. Between you and Aqua you have it down.
It’s Ok bystander, we don’t deserve any coddeling ……………. lay it out there and we will deal with it.
” I simply cannot give a pass to people who have been part of it in any way.”
All I can say is next time don’t sugar coat it so much. The correct eval I did on my own actions was:
‘FLUNK YOU F&%@&N IDIOT! GET A LIFE AND STOP WHININ!’ And next time you’re feeling sorry for yourself …………do something about it.
Rant is over ….. carry on!
Bystander, I feel strongly that this blog of Mike’s is a big tent wherein we all agree 100% on possibly only 1 point: that the abuses of the corporate church of Scn have to be stopped. Having said this, as someone who was helpled by Scientology and who saw others helpled, I would like to offer the following viewpoint on Scientology to you, a viewpoint with which you may agree or disagree as you choose:
Scientology can be likened to a set of tools. Tools can be used for harm or for good. A hammer can be very useful when properly used or you can kill someone with it, intentionally or not.
Another example could be water, sunlight – these are necessary to life but can also kill and maim and harm.
Now, before you go up in arms, I’m not equating Scientology with water and sunlight but just making a point about the proper versus improper usage of tools and facilitators and elements of life, which would include being prescribed the correct drug in its proper dosage for one’s illness, because an improper dosage could also kill or cause serious harm.
That’s my only point about Scientology tech. There are those of us here who have benefited from it, myself included, therefore we tend to hold as a stable datum that we received correct Scientology tech, and that others who did not benefit from it did not receive the correct Scientology tech.
On the other hand, those who did not ever benefit tend to believe that the tech is crap and a fraud and a scam and that there really isn’t any “correct” Scientology tech. I would think this way too – who wouldn’t?
And people who have never had the tech practiced on them at all, who themselves never had subjective experience of any kind with Scientology whether good, bad or indifferent, and who read stories such as those about Candace and Lisa McPherson and many others are completely appalled and horrified. Who could not understand this? How could they think otherwise?
My only point here is that a number of people, due to their own largely positive personal experiences, hold as a stable datum that the tech can really help people, because it helped THEM, and so, when reading horror stories their minds (including mine) conclude that these disastrous results were caused not by the tech per se but by “out” tech. Those of us who were helped think of the tech as “tools” for, or as “facilitators” to increased well being, which need to be correctly applied.
This is not a tech blog, and again, what I believe binds us all together here with Mike is the 100% agreement we all share on the necessity to end the criminal abuses of Disconnection, Fair Game, and out-exchange, for starters in the Church of Scientology, that, no matter what else we agree or disagree upon, we can all be together on these points. Peace.
Wonderful comment Aqua. Should probably put this at the top of the comments for every post.
Well, I knew when I pulled the pin on that and tossed it under the tent flap that it might spark some reaction. I did not want any regular readers here to miss what Tony O had up. But the blog is more for you than for me and you deserve a place for discourse without someone derailing the topic for the day. For that, I apologize.
Sorry, Bystander, but one CAN pick and choose, if that is what they so wish. As long, of course, as they are outside of the current czerch. It’s what being FREE is all about. And as yesterday days blog about the Israeli mission expressed, there are a great number of us who got fantastic life gains from scio back in the 60s and 70s. We forged ahead in our lives, had a hell of a lot of fun while on staff, helped a great many people. Since there are those who are using the tech in the indie field who are actually and consistently providing results, anyone can choose them and decide NOT to choose the supposedly organized czerch which does not provide *anything* it advertises.
Not a single one of us at this times knows what is in the Introspection Rundown run by the current czerch. Perhaps it’s totally out tech and not even used by Indies. I don’t know. But as long as any auditor gets consistently good results and people who are winning at life, those auditors have the right to pick and choose without being constantly bombarded by those who like to see all the good buried along with the bad.
The LDS made “official declarations” banning polygamy and race restrictions. It would be great to see something similar within the indie community with regards to disconnection, fair game, et al. Unless you want the world on your ass forever more…
Well, the difference is that you don’t issue edicts banning practices you don’t engage in. Generally those who have left the official church, no matter what their feelings about scientology are, left because they disagreed with the abusive practices and you would not find them engaging in financial rip offs, Fair Game or Disconnection (though of course there are exceptions that prove every rule).
I agree MWestern. Isolate any toxic writings that support violent acts. Cull Ron’s 3rd and 4th dynamic tech for the seeds of this madness. Make it into a book and let the watching world know where in Indies stand.
There is no other way to be “in ARC” with the general public.
czerch of ® Scientology
registered trademark. All right reserved thegman
Just helping you out thegman. A google search of “czerch of Scientology” or “czerch of” anything came up with 0 results, meaning “czerch of” is officially yours…
I’ll second that.
It’s interesting that with standard tech, the auditor who just ran a session has to write the next CS for the case.
Whether it’s OK’d by the CS is beside the point. There’s a standard line of choice and cause over case. That line does not exist in the Cof$
OT, but cut from the same cloth as disconnection, see Ortega’s blog this morning. Another story about the deeply disturbing introspection rundown. How could anyone subscribe to a ‘spiritual philosophy’ that does that?
You can’t pick and choose. This evil, along with disconnection, is as much a part of the DNA of scientology as any ‘win’ that anyone ever supposedly had.
Just when you think it won’t get any worse ……… Tony comes up with more facts. Today’s story is beyond horrific. I have been very concerned for my daughters safety and now that concern is much worse.
Once the cult has convinced the kids to never contact their SP parents again, they have effectively cut off any lifeline out of their predicament. Haley used to work in the HGB on Hollywood Blvd but the rumor line has it that she married a Russian fellow and is no longer in the LA area. All I can do is hope that she is alright and wish her the best but given the circumstances, I really don’t see how her life can end up well.
I suppose it could be worse such as what the lady in Tony’s story has had to endure and that was even with a parent who knew where she was.
Yes Coop, that story is horrifying. Freedom Mag would be going apeshit if they uncovered that much evidence of abuse by someone connected to psychiatry….
Cooper, whenever I read what you write about your daughter Haley, it always hits close to home for me. I have a daughter too and cannot imagine how I would feel if I didn’t know where she was or how she was doing. I would think about her every day and I can see that you do just that. Hopefully there will come a day when you will be reunited with Haley and I hope that it comes much sooner than later.
Keep up the rants on the subject Cooper. They have probably knocked some sense into people.
Many public (parents) always say that the “Sea Org is the safest place” for their kids to be when they join as teens. I’ve heard this over and over in the past years. To any public who may be reading this: The Sea Org is NOT a ‘safe place’ for your kids. It’s not a safe place for the integrity of the family, or for the individual either. Be realistic and practical. The Sea Org is a cult, nothing else.
Piggy-backing onto Pepper’s comment, it can be added that for an unborn baby in the womb of a Sea Org member one would be hard-pressed to find a more dangerous place.
Your pain comes through Coop and so does your love. Keep it up. I spoke to a friend recently and we explored the idea to “going for broke” with her two lost children. By that I mean hiring a private investigator, involving police, hiring an attorney to demand to physically present her and the like, ie, more extreme actions. Even though you would arcx the shit out of Haley initially, she would be ousted because of sp cooties. I know of someone who succeeded with this and is reunited with her son. Out of the church’s clutches, her viewpoint has hope. I know with my 2 daughters, I’d need to go for broke. You will never regret doing all you could. No one can be in your shoes so whatever you decide, good luck and best wishes.
Good to see you back home, Mike. Glad you’re not too fat to travel.
Wrong Mike.
No, I really am glad this Mike isn’t too fat to travel. As for the other Mike (IJC), I don’t care.
hgc10, seeing yourself and your colleagues being on beans and rice for quite a while may have enturbulated your judgment. Having emaciated bodies is not the standard look.There are steaks, cheese cakes, chocolate and many other treats foreign to your menu plan.
Now your bosses know those quite too well, apparently the IJC is being rolled to his desk.
Is he going to eat that wafer-thin mint after gorging himself? I hope not.
I went to the premier with my hubby and some friends and all of us liked the play very much. It is very well written and the performers (although non of them exes) did a remarkable job. If you have the opportunity, go see it!
Not sure, but isn’t Jay Huguley in it? http://www.truthaboutscientology.com/stats/by-name/j/jay-huguley.html
TrevAnon, Personal Efficiency Course is for wogs. 🙂
Here’s hoping it gets to the East Coast!
It will get to the East Coast if more and more people go to see it now. I saw it and highly recommend it. It is hard hitting, truthful, and the actors and actresses are amazing in these roles. The writing is so lazer penetrating. Great play and having it show more and more will help our cause. Some have told me they won’t see it “because it portrays Scn and LRH in a bad light.” Actually it doesn’t. It portrays DM in a bad light.
Well that is unfortunate!
Mike: You and this band of make believers are living on Target 8. A sleep-deprived Tommy Davis, the last Sci spokesperson that appeared in public, conclusively shows that Disconnection is a figment of Internet Invention.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC5hoyIgpKc
For those who don’t know the history of Anon’s involvement of being on the side of the Good Guys, let me tell you this sort-of secret, because I lived it. At just about this time, Anon was pretty much ready to give up. There were severe internal divisions among Anon thanks to the Marblecake incident, and there were loads of loud voices saying to give it up, there were no more lulz to be had.
Then came Tommy Davis and “there is no disconnection”.
Within fifteen minutes, memes were shooting all over the place, shoops of Tommy were being plastered all over the Internet, and Tommy was declared Leader of Anonymous. The lulz were back. Tommy papered over a lot of differences between the various Anon camps that day, just by being Tommy.
DM said to the sheeple after the March 10th, 2008 protests that Anon would be “handled”. Yeah, we were handled all right, handled right into continuing the monthly protests thanks to Footbullet Man Tommy Davis.
Espiando or anyone else who knows: Reputedly Pope Pompous Pimp the Puke declare that Anonymous had been defeated at some time a year or so into its campaign? I would love to know what such a statement said. It clearly was not obeyed.
Mike: welcome back to some loving family arms to hug you. After all you’ve been through you must want to puke if you hear Tommy Davis talk about how the family is the building block of scientology or whatever he says.
I sincerely hope there is a version of Disconnection the play makes it onto PBS or some other media outlet that will enable to to go beyond LA/NY. Somehow I don’t think it will make a smash musical.
I never heard that the Toxic Dwarf declared Victoly over Anon. I’m damn sure, though, that he said it to some of the whales who might have been asking uncomfortable questions regarding SPs and “who are these people in masks”.
The most fun unsubstantiated rumor we had from that time was that DM had told people that Anon was not only in the pay of the Ebil Psychs, but that we were also Marcabian representatives of the Fourth and/or Fifth Invader Fleet. I so want that to be true.
That piece of shit will be lucky to claim victory over diaper rash.