Original Drama Examines One of Bible's Most Mysterious Characters
By THOMAS CONNER World Entertainment Writer 11/13/1997
The Midwestern Theater Troupe will present "The Baptist Submerged," a drama written by John Crunleton. World staff photo by Tom Gilbert.
John Cruncleton is nothing if not determined. Even bold. You have to be both when writing and producing original drama in Tulsa.
Preview:
Play: "The Baptist Submerged"
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Nov. 21-22
Where: Springdale Community Center, 2223 E. Pine St.
Tickets: $5 at the door
Cruncleton took matters into his own hands a couple of years ago when he founded the Midwestern Theater Troupe. The company has since produced four of Cruncleton's plays, all of which have been ambitious, dream-like presentations of various cultural myths.
"The Baptist Submerged" is the fifth Cruncleton script tackled by the Midwestern Theater Troupe, which Cruncleton also directs.
"This play was only half-written when we started rehearsal," Cruncleton said last week. "I arranged it that way on purpose. I wanted to try something different and write as we went, as our rehearsal developed certain themes."
Cruncleton's first three plays focused on tales in Ozark folklore, but the last one, ``Pharoh's Hymn,'' explored the mysteries of ancient Egypt. "The Baptist Submerged" moves across the Red Sea -- post-parting -- to examine the life of John the Baptist, one of the Bible's most mysterious characters.
"From the gloomy confines of his dungeon cell in the frontier fortress of Machaeras," Cruncleton wrote of the play, "John examines his life and the mission it encompassed, and reflects on the nature of his singular destiny. The scenes alternate between surreal flashbacks punctuating the gloom of his grim reality."
Ever striving for a unique theatrical offering for Tulsans, Cruncleton said the current production -- which involved building several special platforms and lighting structures at the Springdale center -- was yet another step in the troupe's continuing self-challenge.
"In our quest to provide engaging, thought-provoking, atmospheric plays, we have driven ourselves to assume greater and greater challenges. Our current production utilizes dramatic masks, stylized lighting, unique sound editing and other neat stuff," Cruncleton said. "We aim to entertain."