A play by Bradley W. Bishop and Nairne Dickey

The script is based on the interactions between long time friends and co-workers, John, Bill, and Tony, as they have drinks after dinner at a back street twenty's "speak easy" bar known as The Times. At different moments during their remedial conversations, each character drifts into a day dream or venue imposed upon the scene at the bar. This play delves into these venues, exposing them in full form on the stage.

John Ponceleon...........Ernie Brown

John, an egocentric self taught philosopher, satisfies his need for leadership in his identity as the foreman of a downtown New York city commercial construction company. John's venue is realized in a contrived fantastic intellectualized conversation concerning the great questions of sexuality, the existence of God, fatalism, and the validity of western science.

Tony Pelione...........David Powell

Tony, a strong, innocent, humble depressive, exposed his dying belief in optimism with an attempted suicide, two weeks previous to this night in the bar. His desperation was only accentuated further by the brutal murder of his younger brother, Louie. Tony's venue is a total recall of his attempted suicide, which is eluded to during three brief segues (Tony I, II, & III) in the script.

Bill Townshend...........Brett McKnight

Bill, an antagonistic Devil's advocate, demands conflicts and resolution amongst his cohorts while still maintaining an obligatory respect for John and a badgering protection of Tony. Bill's venue concerns a paranoid delusion of pointed murder in an attempt to find a worthy scapegoat for Louie's death.

"Tony's Venue"
Ponceleon...........Ernie Brown
Tony Pelione...........David Powell
Bill Townshend...........Brett McKnight

After reaching a pinnacle of heightened intensity, each character mentally returns to the bar to continue the remedial conversation. By the end of the play, each character has learned something or gained something from his experience during the venue. More importantly the characters have found a strength in unity by realizing their common humanity and acting upon it.

The Beauty of Grey Cover Shot
Model...........Justin Beard

The Beauty of Greywas originally produced by Red Octopus Theatre Company at the Studio Theatre of the Newport Performing Arts Center, Newport, Oregon on May 14, 1998, directed by Bradley W. Bishop, with music designed by Ben Gaffin.

The rest of the cast was as follows:

"Bang!"
Domino Castiglione...........Shawn Brateng

"Louie and Friend"
Louie Pelione...........Hunter Blackwell

"Tango"
Waitress...........Kendra Freedom
Bar Tender...........Justin Beard

EMT Staff...........Nick Richardson, Ti Zander, Andrew Vilius (not Pictured)
Pall Bearers...........Nick Richardson, Andrew Vilius, Ti Zander
(Photos courtesy of Andrew Vilius)