Mobster who got ‘religion’ to MC ‘Providence’ at Odeum Nov. 19

By Colleen Mellor
Posted 10/28/16

Oh, it’s good...and we all know Rhode Island loves a good mobster story.

After all, our little state didn’t get the nickname “Rogue Island” for nothing.

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Mobster who got ‘religion’ to MC ‘Providence’ at Odeum Nov. 19

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Oh, it’s good...and we all know Rhode Island loves a good mobster story.

After all, our little state didn’t get the nickname “Rogue Island” for nothing. On Federal Hill, in years past, the Mafia allegedly kept company with any number of iconic goodfellas in the heavily Italian neighborhood.

Some of those shady folks mirror those characters in this two-act play, put on by Sacred Exchange Fellowship, 75 Division Road, Warwick.

The play, “Providence,” enacted by church members, is the fictional collision of two dissimilar worlds: the African-American Pentecostal church versus the Italian-American Catholic Mafia in the late ’60s. Tension is tight.

Pastor Monroe (played by Rhode Island state trooper Wes Pennington) portrays the black preacher who stands against racial bias in an era of intense bigotry, while Pastor Michael “Mike” Caparrelli portrays the mob angle.

The Saturday, Nov. 19 show (at 6 p.m.) will be different in that it employs the anecdotal skills of real life, mobster-turned good guy Michael Franzese of the reputed violent and feared Colombo crime family. He’ll be master of ceremonies, weaving in interesting anecdotes of mob life, from his personal arsenal. But he’s a guy who literally “got religion.”

According to www.michaelfranzese.com, ‘In 1986 mafia boss Michael Franzese was named by Vanity Fair one of the biggest money earners the mob had seen since Al Capone.

“Michael Franzese is the only high ranking official of a major crime family to ever walk away, without protective custodies, and survive...” That’s reason alone to see the show.

Now, Franzese goes about the country, speaking his message that crime doesn’t pay – at least in the ways that matter. Considering he’s walked the walk, he makes a perfect vehicle for this message.

How’d Franzese get involved in the production? He became acquainted with the charismatic Pastor Michael Caparrelli of Sacred Exchange Fellowship some years back, when both attended a church-sponsored event where Franzese spoke. They’ve kept in touch ever since.

When Pastor Mike determined his church would put on this play, he asked Franzese to be master of ceremonies for the Saturday night production and Franzese complied.

“Providence” will be performed two nights, Friday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. and Sat., Nov. 19 at 6 p.m. (Franzese will MC this night), at the Odeum Theatre, 59 Main St., East Greenwich. Tickets may be purchased at www.sacredexchange.com or by calling the church at 885-0220.

Mob, Mobster, Franzese, Church, Sacred Exchange

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