‘Incorruptible’ Review by Rachel Relat
★★★★½
Welcome to Priseaux, France, in the dark times of ca. 1250 AD. And if, when I said “Priseaux,” your first reaction was a befuddled, “Where is that?” you’re not alone! In this godforsaken and forgotten monastery, the times are dark indeed. Calamities keep happening and Saint Foy, the local saint, hasn’t worked a miracle in years. In short, things are decidedly dire … until the monks receive the visit of a one-eyed minstrel who shows them how to get out of their predicament, and maybe even get the attention of the Pope himself!
The allure of Incorruptible lies in its irreverence and dark humor, and I was all here for it. The actors waltz through themes like the endurance of faith and the worshipping of relics, whether or not they are really what they claim to be. Without realizing, we find ourselves in the middle of outright graverobbing, desecration, and deception. And we’re not just in the middle, we’re laughing about it!
The entire cast shines in their respective roles, starting with Patrick Beverley as Abbott Charles, who uses his faith as a crutch against lifelong guilt regarding sawdust-filled bread (it’s a long story!) Alex Jacob plays Brother Martin, who slowly but surely embraces his inner deviousness after years of frustration with his vows of poverty. Kurtis Bright chews the scenery with gusto as Jack, a surprisingly layered character, unapologetically mischievous but still upholding his moral code. Alice Russo and Victoria Russell bicker as mother and daughter trying to benefit from the whole situation. Meanwhile Bünyamin Cicek and Matthew Murtha play hapless novices Olf and Felix, who are trying their best to follow their superiors’ shenanigans. Finally, Mara Ambrosie steals the show in her brief but powerful appearance as Abbess Agatha, who has a thing or two to say to Charles!
This is the first production by the Barcelona Community Theatre Group, a new theatre troupe on the Barcelona scene, and Incorruptible certainly starts them off with a bang. While the show has the odd muddled line or off-timing during some entrances or effects (understandable for a new company in their first production), that doesn’t detract from a thoroughly enjoyable performance. All the actors, most of whom are already experienced comics in their own right, bring their own personal touch to make their characters unique and memorable. Beverley, Bright, and Russo share credits as co-directors, and I can’t wait to see what else they have in store.
Overall, I heartily recommend catching a performance of this play. The Abbey of Priseaux will gladly take your coin in exchange for a memorable evening! The next showings will be on February 7th and February 14th at the Metamórfosis Theater in Barcelona. Don’t miss it!
