Oh Brother Mortimer, where art thou?
Residents of Eden’s Hollow
Moishe Lovestonosh – A fishmonger. (Joel Taras)
Rufus Kahn – A fisherman. (Tom Edwards)
Zebulon Nebuchadnezzar – A shepherd. (Chris Bullough)
Benjamin Barnabas – A baker. (Michael Watt)
Sam Ael – A fallen angel. (Randy Brososky)
Chad Luke – Jesus’ #1 Fan. (Kristi Hansen)
Sharron – Manager of Herod’s department store. (Caley Suliak)
John – One of The Little Guitar Boys. (Jason Hardwick)
Salomé – Deli owner. (Stephanie Wolfe)
Myrrh Incense – Town scribe. (Kirsten Throndson)
Lillith - Her mother, with an unearned reputation. (Nikki Hulowski)
Leonidasidas Flavious Flavous Maximus - representative of the Roman Empire (Cody Porter)
with Special Guest:
Jerome - Leonidasidas’ son, a poet (Ron Pederson)
GOD (our Director) - Jake Tkaczyk
Musical Messiah - Paul Morgan Donald
Producer - Nicole Thibault
Technical Magic - Olivia Bogaard
The Original Writer Downer of Things - Jim Cej
Act I
John and Jerome arrive in Sodom and can’t decide what to do first. Realising that they don’t have any money to do anything with, Jerome decides to sell his mother’s horse necklace.
Myrrh takes Paul home and he meets her mother. Myrrh is very protective of her new husband and thinks that she is interested in him. Paul offers to visit with her privately to get to know her better.
Rufus confronts Angel Baby as she talks to her Father. Rufus is feeling much better after from his healing, and wonders why she didn’t help him. She was waiting to ask Dad for permission. She compares body parts with Rufus, and he wants to learn about her relationship her Father. She has another look at his man parts.
Moishe and Zeb are trying to build Mortimer’s monastery without any actual plans. Moishe is getting a good workout. It’s not the number of reps you do, it’s the number of spots you see. When they’re done, Moishe asks if he can help him build his big boat for all the animals. Ever since he left his sheep, Zeb has wanted to get back to basics and work with his hands. He misses his flock, though.
Back in Sodom, John tries to cheer up a disappointed Jerome. It’s hard to be away from home without any money or looks or experience. You have experience. Jerome writes poetry in his sleep and John has been writing them down. Stealer! John sings about what he said it will one like when he’s older. You think my poems are good enough to be songs? He gives John a stack of his poems to read.
Leonidas chats with Sam Ael about the wonders of Roman engineering. They have something in common; they both have sons to look after. Leonidas casually asks it he is into any deities. All the ones that he has met have been dicks. Or Richards. Leonidas advises him to let the essence of the child shine through. Baby Chad rouses and growls. They meet by the docks later that night, where they meet Phineas, a merchant. Leonidas is really appeals to Baby Chad. The child is half demon, and Sam explains that he is trying to show him the right path and to avoid evil. Leonidas says that you have to take what you want. Don’t wait, take. Baby Chad takes Leonidas’s words to heart. Chad has a revelation. Sam has been really nice to him, but he wants to go with the Roman.
Paul speaks with Lilith, his wife’s mother alone, interrupting her sponging herself. Paul wants to talk about the wedding night he had with Myrrh. It was never consummated and the marriage is a sham. In Sodom, you can have as many people as you want in your relationship. Paul has an idea. He wants to have a marriage party again, in the theme of Sodom. Myrrh demands to know why her mother is touching her husband. Lilith wants to throw a party for the couple. Myrrh worries that her mother will steal all the attention at the party. Myrrh and Paul disagree. Is this our first fight. No, that was our wedding night when you couldn’t get it up.
Angel Baby overhears Zeb and Moishe talking about love. Zeb wants her to leave. He wants to help Moishe build an ark. Angel baby is excited! There’s going to be another smiting! Zeb is angry! Angel Baby says that he has 3 days to improve himself to stop it from happening. Angel Baby prays for more time than 3 days. God asks what is so good about them that they deserve more time? Then maybe I’ll reconsider. They sing that they are worthy and good and will do anything for Him. Let us prove that we are worthy for you.
Act II
Moishe and Zeb gather animals for the ark. Zeb sees some sheep from his past, Cindy-Lou and Mary. They are angry that he deserted them. Cindy-Lou gives birth to a baby lamb. And another… 20 minutes later, Zeb’s arms are full of sheep. I think we’re going to have to build a bigger ark.
John and Jerome try to write a song. Why can’t we make up our own words? Shakespeare did it! Why don’t we just wing it? In front of people? It would never work. Sodom has been inspiring, but maybe we should go back. John misses his brother. But you have had nothing good to say about him for that past 2 hours. John doesn’t think Sodom is a place where 2 men can be happy.
Myrrh is confused and sits on the dock, where she is joined by the merchant Phineas. He can see that she needs something. He has an ointment that can help bring back what she wants. The first sniff is free… She calls out for John, and can hear his voice, which sounds suspiciously like Paul. She asks John if he still loves her. He wants to be with the her, but she is married to his brother. She wants another sniff, but there is a cost. She will owe Phineas a favour. She gets 5 more sniffs, and asks for her father’s advice. Mom is back, and she is after her husband. What should I do? What does your heart say? I want to run away. Phineas says that you can’t run away from her problems. Her father agrees. She needs to write a song about it, just for herself.
Leonidas, Sam and Chad need to make some decisions about being evil. What does Chad hunger for? Chad talks alone with Leonidas. He wants his help making a decision. His dad thinks he has the potential to be good, but he’d like to be bad. What would you tell your own son? For the longest time, I tried to fit my son into a mold that didn’t fit. You have to answer the hunger inside you. Love yourself as much as you can. You cannot love anyone until you pleasure yourself. Listen to your hunger. Chad chews on Leonidas’s hand.
Sam needs to speak with someone on his own level. He seeks out Angel Baby. He’s been babysitting. Have you sent Chad down the river? No, he has to make his own choices. But how do you do that and still guide him. Angel baby says that if you get rid of him somehow, he won’t destroy the whole place. So you want to kill a baby? Just the demon half! You’re not helping! You have to help make him good, Angel Baby. You have 3 days to do it. Her Father said that he sent her down to learn how to make him good. Baby Chad asks if Angel Baby is his auntie. Yes. Tell me a story! You smell like apple pie. Do you like that? She tickles him. Do you like that too? Would you be willing to be good? How? Maybe give the Roman a gift? Try thinking of apple pie? She looks into Chad’s eyes, and speaks warmly to him.
John and Paul are reunited, as are Leonidas and Jerome. Paul says that they parted on a bad note. John doesn’t blame his brother and Myrrh. He treated them both horribly. Jerome missed his father while he was gone. Jerome is the differentest son that he could have. Paul confesses that he met his wife’s mom and he thinks he likes her more. He needs his brother’s advice.. They are twins, John can go with Myrrh and Paul can go with her mom. Jerome needs to find himself. He’s going to Gomorrah. The only thing that matters is for you to be happy, son.
Zeb and Moishe try to go about their business, but they are weighed down by all the lambs. They all frolic in their own way. Zeb cannot understand all this abundance in the face of destruction. Moishe has a plan. 2 arks. One for you and the sheep, the other for himself and the rest of society. Zeb introduces each of the sheep to Moishe. They have all come to him to be saved. Zeb sends Moishe off to his ark. He will go with his sheep. They have followed him, and now he will follow them. Moishe is disgusted, but Zeb says that it’s all platonic. Moishe says that it is certain death to go off. Zeb is deciding his own fate. The shepherd has become the sheep. Moishe will find others that will want to come into the future with him, that want to lead a new revolution.
All Photos by Janna Hove
