So what happens when four 12th century monks in financial difficulty bring in a one-eyed minstrel to help them out? Find out with Clarkton Village Players? rendition of ‘Incorruptible.?
“Doing something from the past always gives you insight into different aspects of how people lived,? said Mel Case, who plays Brother Olf. ‘You don’t get a real flavor of monks, but it is fun.?
Dave Kramer, who plays Brother Martin, said he likes how irreverent his character is.
‘I don’t cross myself. I don’t buy into any of this,? he said. ‘I’m just ‘where’s the money.??
Kramer, who’s played smaller roles in ensemble comedies in the past, got the chance to play a bigger role.
‘This is the first time I’ve had a major part in an ensemble comedy,? he said. ‘This has been a real challenge to me with the fast pace dialog bouncing back and forth between the characters.?
James Hoxsey, who plays Father Charles, said his character is pulled into a difficult situation.
‘He has this guilt hanging over him all these years about his father and what happened to his father,? Hoxsey said. ‘Then he finds out all these years later that it was never his father’s idea, but his sisters.?
Tracy Selak plays the part of Charles? sister.
‘I get to be a raving, angry, mean lady,? she said. ‘It was just really hard because I’m such a nice person and it takes a lot out of me, but I like that it gets out all my frustrations of the day.?
Dan Cook is Brother Felix, a new monk to the order who is also a man in conflict.
‘He’s trying to do the right thing in his mind, but has a past of being a lady’s man,? he said. ‘It’s kind of fun to see the conflict from what he was to what he is now.?
Cyrano Jones, who plays the ‘one-eyed minstrel,? described his character as the ‘coyote role.?
‘He’s the outside force, the trickster, he pushes your boundaries and he questions your rules. You look at him and say ‘why don’t we do that?? Then you look at him and discover why you don’t do that,? Jones said. ‘Coyote is an object lesson and he teaches you why you’re supposed to follow the rules.?
Other cast include Bruce Toncray and Johana Bell
Director Lois Keel said she loved the play because it had ‘many layers of incorruptible.?
‘It’s not just a play it for laughs, although there is plenty of them. The guy who wrote it did a great job with the script,? Keel said. ‘I could see so many great things I could do with it and wanted to see if I could bring out all of those layers about not only a saint being incorruptible, but corrupting for your morals and things like that, It was a great show.?
She also loved the cast, but said it was hard finding the right cast at first.
‘We wound up taking an extra week just to try and come up with everybody and I’m glad we did because I’m delighted with everybody,? she said. ‘Everybody that wound up in this show is the right one for their part.?
‘Incorruptible? runs May 19-21 at the Depot Theater, 4861 White Lake Road. Shows start at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. For tickets, call 248-573-4104. For more information, visit www.clarkstonvillageplayers.org.