Is nothing sacred? Not this weekend at Fisher Theater.

Modern faith has many faces and various voices.

This is one of the points mulled over in Bill C. Davis’ “Mass Appeal,” which will run Thursday and Friday nights at Fisher Theater.

The production is directed by Jane Cox, associate professor of performing arts and interim director of ISU Theater, and stars Patrick Gouran, associate professor of performing arts and veteran of theater and film, as the old priest, Father Farley, and the multi-faceted actor/playwright/director David Byrd, senior in performing arts, as young seminarian Mark Bilson.

“It’s the story of a priest and a seminarian who meet and are almost immediately drawn into conflict over a number of things,” Cox said.

“The old priest is very popular, and the young one is very strict about what he believes faith and friendship are about and the two come into conflict over that.”

The play is not just a straight forward story where one character learns the faults of his ways, but one in which the characters learn from each other while the audience plays the role of congregation.

“The two learn from one another,” Gouran said. “So it is not just the priest who goes on because of the young seminarian to learn he has strong convictions.

“[The audience] will not be in total light, but the audience is the congregation.”

Cox said the play deals with serious issues of faith, but often in a funny manner.

“One of the things I like about ‘Mass Appeal’ is that it is serious and funny and sometimes both at the same time,” she said.

“It looks at friendship and faith and the way that two different generations look at those things … New York Magazine said the script was one of the rare plays that educates while it entertains.”

“Mass Appeal” is an old-time revival in more than one sense of the word. Cox directed Gouran in the play 10 years ago.

Cox said she found the original experience moving and while she was concerned that the new run might not compare to the old one, this soon proved not to be the case.

“Working on this play ten years ago was a great experience for Pat and me.

“I worked with a director once who said it is hard to recapture a rapture, but I think Pat does a better job now than he did 10 years ago, and David is doing excellent work as well.,” she said.

“Mass Appeal” will be performed tonight at 8 and Friday night at 7:30 at Fisher Theater.

The play costs $10 for adults, $9 for seniors and $4.50 for students.