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Infidel
By Roger Gregg
Presented by Crazy Dog Audio Theatre
Available for download at ZBS
Following on the success of their prophetic radio drama The Last Harbinger, Ireland’s Crazy Dog Audio Theatre has gone from the futuristic to the historical with a new production of Infidel by Crazy Dog founder Roger Gregg.
Infidel takes place in the early 13th century during the Fifth Crusade. In the context of the factual history of the Crusade, Infidel tells the fictional story of brothers Hugh and Philip of Beauvais, and Omar, the youngest son of the sultan and to whom Hugh becomes a tutor and unlikely friend.
As one would expect from the players and technicians at Crazy Dog, Infidel is an outstanding achievement on the levels of acting, directing, and production. A visit to the Crazy Dog website affords behind-the-scenes views of the production process, complete with scenes recorded at night in the rain and on location with galloping horses (no Pythonesque coconuts in this production!).
The care and professionalism with which Crazy Dog makes its state-of-the-art radio drama bespeaks the importance of the lessons Infidel offers contemporary listeners about the reality of culture clashes and the absolute necessity of dialogue and tolerance. Infidel has all the elements of great drama—high-quality writing, acting, and production. As a piece about war and religion, Infidel offers a unique angle on the familiar story of the Crusades: a pair of brothers who go together to the Crusades but find themselves in conflict; an unlikely friendship between enemies; the just-outside-the-viewfinder presence of an Italian ascetic from Assisi who preaches the God of love in the midst of soldiers acting on behalf of the God of war. This compelling play succeeds on the levels of historical authenticity, commentary on contemporary issues, and sheer entertainment. Highly recommended.
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