Corpses, Catholics and supernatural sacred bones from 1250 A.D. are all part of a less-than-perfect world that comes to life in Iowa State Theatre’s production of “Incorruptible.”

The comedy, set in a monastery in Priseaux, France during the Dark Ages, opens with a destitute group of monks who are willing to do just about anything for money or a miracle.

“It’s a modern-day look on a dark time. It is funny to impose the Dark Ages in a different light and it makes them seem not so dark,” says Robin Stone, the play’s director and assistant professor of music. “Besides, what’s funnier than a comedy about dead bodies, corpses, and Catholics? The laughs never end.”

Stone says the play is not trying to bash Catholicism, but is using it as an example of an institution in which people have faith. He says it poses the question of faith and asks what happens when an institution of faith violates trust.

The play was originally written in 1992 by Michael Hollinger, who is Catholic. Stone was a part of the first staged reading and worked as an assistant to Hollinger, who was the literary manager of the Philadelphia Festival Theatre for New Plays at the time. Stone says much of the play is based on factual accounts from research done by Hollinger.

History shows the relics of the patron saints of monasteries were often thought to possess supernatural powers and work miracles to cure the lame and give sight to the blind, Stone says.

Hollinger works his research into the play in a comedic way as the monks and nuns of “Incorruptible” turn to their patron saint’s relics for a miracle. However, a thirteen-year miracle drought persists as no sensational phenomenons are produced.

Although the first production and published version of “Incorruptible” is much different and came four years after the original reading, Stone says he liked the script so much, he knew he wanted to direct it some day.

“The best part of this play is how well-written it is,” says Jennifer Phillips, junior in performing arts who plays the character of Marie in the play. “The plot is tightly woven and exposition is given so that at the end, everything comes together.”

Metaphors and symbolism, relating to the faith-centered play, are used throughout the production to make the audience think, Phillips says.

“When the audience leaves, I want them to think about where their faith lies — not necessarily their religious faith — maybe their faith in love or something else,” Phillips says. “You’ve got to have faith in something — otherwise you will have a bleak outlook on life.

‘Incorruptible’ raises the question and makes you think, ‘Does the end justify the means?'”

---

“Incorruptible”

Where: Fisher Theatre

When: 7:30 p.m., Friday—Saturday2 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 12

Cost: $5.50 students, $11 adults