Too many women suffer silently in abusive relationships and they are often led to believe that their situation has something to do with the fact that they misbehaved.

Often, when these women face the fact that they are allowing the abuse to continue, they are then liberated and go on to live abuse-free lives.

Any woman who has faced this situation will admit the journey is not an easy one to take, but she will tell you that she is glad she made it.

Pat Pogson's latest play, which opened at Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts under the distinguished patronage of the Minister of Finance Paula Cox on Tuesday night, deals with abuse in its many forms.

The aim of 'Pastor Will You Marry Me Please' is to make this taboo subject digestible and to hopefully reach out to women who are being abused.

It is all about women taking control of their lives.

Essentially Mrs. Pogson said: "At the end of this, the one message that I want women to walk away with is, that if you are being abused, whether sexually, physically or mentally, you have to fight back and while you and the perpetrator are in the room, you have the strength to fight then defend yourself if you can.

"And two, once it is all said and done, if you survive, then you have to do something legally and you have to get some support. But I do believe that at the end of the day, poetic justice shall prevail.

"It is a serious subject matter, but I have done it lightly so that it is digestible."

The story is based around the life and times of a young girl who has had enough of being the victim and who has instead decided to become a victor.

"This is the story of Mary Waterspoon, who is 14 years old," explained the playwright.

"She has decided to take responsibility for her life, because her family life is very abusive.

"On the night that the play opens, you will see Mary running away from home, she is looking for some safety and she ends up in this parsonage.

"It is there that she finds safety and purpose for her life."

Rising gospel star DeWayne Woods is taking part in the play. "He has allowed us to use his music to provide the theme," Mrs. Pogson said. "He is also playing in the character of Pastor Ryan, but most people know him as a singer or 'Let Go, Let God'."

Mrs. Pogson said the play's title derives from the main character's eventual decision to become a pastor.

"The church, Pentecostal Christian Holiness Assembly, is in trouble, as the original pastor ran off with the church's tithes and left only $130," Mrs. Pogson explained of the plot. "So the church is in an uproar."

A web of characters with tangled relationships vie for the pastor's position providing the dramatic body of the play.

Mrs. Pogson advises audiences that the play is not appropriate for young children. "It is rated PG, but if you are bringing your children they should at least be 14 or 15," she said. "It is real and timely."

She hopes the message of the play with draw out both discussion within the Bermuda community and an international audience.

"I have been conversing with a company and I am going to produce this as a DVD and a book," Mrs. Pogson said. "It will be filmed during the first two nights of the play. "I am looking for international exposure for this, so I am really excited."

The playwright has drawn on a variety of Island talents for her cast.

"Nishanti Bailey is Mary, you know Lamont Robinson from 'Dream Girls' and 'Tony and Tina's Wedding', Gina Davis is our one female comedienne on the Island and newcomer Perry Trott," she listed among the play's actors. "Also Tolina Murphy plays Mary's mom. It promises to be a very entertaining evening."

Tickets, $45, are available at Vibe, Burnaby Hill, 27th Century Boutique, and from members of the cast and crew.

'Pastor Will You Marry Me' runs until June 21. Play starts at 8 p.m. sharp.