By John Lyle Belden

For decades an asset to both the Indy arts and African-American communities, Actors Ink returns to the boards with a focus on “POCA” – People Of a Certain Age.

That mission, giving aspiring actors of any experience level in their 60s or older their time to shine on stage, is reflected in the present production of the comedy “Grandmothers, Incorporated,” by Crystal V. Rhodes and L. Barnett Evans, based on their series of mystery novels, directed by Sandra Gay at the Phoenix Theatre Cultural Center.

Finding a home broken into can be distressing, but what if it’s you in the wrong house? Bea, Connie, Hattie, and Ms. Fannie had planned a “spiritual retreat” to their friend’s cabin in the woods. After a few wrong turns, they arrive at the vacation home to find everything thrown about – a complete mess – and a man tied up in the closet! What’s more, the man turns out to be notorious local drug kingpin Chevron Harris; what’s worse, this might actually be his cabin.

The main mystery for these ladies to solve is how to get out of this without ending up in jail for B&E, or a worse fate at Chevron’s hands, while ensuring the man gets behind bars where he belongs.

The cast puts in a brave effort, putting aside aches, pains and occasional memory glitches to draw laughs and delight from a supportive audience. But you don’t have to be a close friend or relative to thrill at Sharon Maye-Jordan’s sass as Miss Fannie or fall under the spell of smooth-talking Eric Yancy as Chevron, who can suddenly switch from suave to spiteful. Patricia Ann Brookins is Bea, and depending or the performance, Deniece Bailey or Patty Johnson is Hattie, Linda Murray Parks or Pamela E. Yancy is Connie, Betty Meriweather or Georgia Myers is a radio announcer who appears at the end, and Larry David Keogh is an alternative for Chevron. Luther Montgomery is heard as the “Voice of God.”

This partnership with Actors Ink is a credit to the Phoenix Theatre’s continuing commitment to community arts and minority voices. The production is also supported by Witherspoon Presbyterian Church.

Performances of “Grandmothers, Incorporated” are Friday through Sunday, Oct. 13-15, on the main stage at 705 N. Illinois, downtown Indianapolis. Get tickets at phoenixtheatre.org.