New Ground’s ‘These Mortal Hosts’ offers a fresh twist on an old tale Bob Abelman Cleveland Jewish News, The News Herald, The Morning Journal Member, International Association of Theatre Critics In the New Testament, a messenger of God tells John the Baptist to go into the wilderness to prepare for the coming of a messianic figure greater than himself. In 15th century France, Joan of Arc testified to hearing angels and saints tell her to lead the French Army in rescuing her country from English domination. And in Dove Creek, Colorado, three unlikely and seemingly random locals – a self-absorbed high school senior named Meaghan, an anal-retentive bank manager named Phyllis, and a kind-hearted, straight-talking grocery store butcher named Earl – find themselves in the middle of a miracle in Cleveland playwright Eric Coble’s “These Mortal Hosts.” The play – a psalm with a sense of humor – is receiving its world premiere in the 12th annual Cleveland Play House New Ground Festival, an event that has firmly established itself as a champion of intriguing art and emerging artists. For more of this article, go to www.clevelandjewishnews.com/columnists/.