Halloween Comedy to Be Staged at the A.D.A.M.S.
by KRIS DUDLEY 10/19/1995
John Cruncleton has made accomplishments in the theater world that many people only dream about.The 21-year-old has written, directed, performed in and produced two plays.
If his first production, "Baby of Abaddon Mountain" was a sign of success, then his second upcoming play, "Jack Frost and the Devil's Pretty Daughter," should be a smash.
"Jack Frost and the Devil's Pretty Daughter" is a one-hour long, one-act comedy set for 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at A.D.A.M.S. Theatre, 1511 S. Delaware Ave. Advance tickets are $5 and $6 at the door.
Cruncleton has been writing creative stories since he was old enough to scribble. His interest in writing continued growing throughout his school years and by high school he was writing plays, in addition to perfecting his acting abilities.
"I was not terribly interested in being an actor, but I have written several parts that I would like to perform," said Cruncleton, who not only directs his performances but also acts in them.
Cruncleton's inspiration for his current plays is the folklore of the Midwest region. He spent a lot of time in Arkansas and came to appreciate the element of humor and their bittersweet approach to life.
"I have found the Midwest to be a most reasonable area. There is a lot of common sense here that's lacking on the other coasts and I appreciate that," Cruncleton said.
The setting for his upcoming Halloween production is the Abaddon Mountain Cemetery.
"It's an homage to Halloween and autumn. There are a lot of spooky elements in it," Cruncleton said.
Cruncleton said the Abaddon Mountains is a cross between the Ouachita and the Ozark Mountains. He wrote the play in about a month and a half, keeping in mind the length of "Baby of Abaddon Mountains," which was three hours long.
"You see something produced and you see what works and what doesn't. You see how the character and plot develop in a nonverbal way," Cruncleton said.
"Jack Frost and the Devil's Daughter" features five cast members, with Cruncleton playing Jack Frost.
He hopes his second play will be as well received as his first, which had a two-night attendance of about 200 people -- something that pleased the young playwright.
"I'm interested in what the response will be this time since it is a comedy." Cruncleton has no plans to stop writing. He is aiming to produce a play in March or April and has many ideas in mind, all based on area folklore.