By John Lyle Belden

To engage in the theatrical journey that is “Folks,” written and performed by Josiah Ray McCruiston, we must understand a single word: Griot.

It comes to us through the linguistic filter of colonialism, indicating a way of life going back centuries in western and central Africa. The role of the griot in society is a rich gumbo of responsibility and privilege, like what you might call a bard, minstrel, mediator, officiant, historian, shaman – and above all, storyteller.

In the past, a Griot would preserve the history of a village or be advisor to a King. (Consider the role of Rafiki in “The Lion King.”) Reflecting his company’s name, Grand Griot Productions, McCruiston appears as a New World version of this calling. The African Diaspora in the U.S. is his village, through which he travels along a spiritual Underground Railroad.

This storyteller carries the wisdom of more than a century, so he has many tales to tell. “Stories are like cooking,” he says, and he’s struggling to get the recipe right. If the telling is acceptable to the spirits of old – the Griots who have gone before – then sacred aspects are unlocked, completing a crest that will open the gate so “we may be free in the soul.”

We hear the subjects of old stories told in new ways, interwoven with familiar songs. The legendary John Henry is celebrated not for how he died, but how he lived, working “against systems.” There is the hunter who was lost, then found by his children. There is a perspective of Brer Rabbit you’ll never hear from Disney. We meet High John, who challenged the Devil. We hear about the world’s most powerful creature – of which there is likely at least one just a few feet from you now. We learn that with the help of the Griot, captive souls remember how to fly.

Fascinating, enlightening, and rich with meaning, these “Folks” tales are a wonder-full experience for all, no matter how many generations you are removed from the continent where humanity started. McCruiston presents it all in the relatable manner of a one-person show, with deep respect for the storytellers’ art and an uncompromising view of history.

Created as part of the Flanner Fringe Lab, in partnership with IF Theatre and the Flanner House Arts Stage Academy, performances of “Folks” are Friday through Sunday, June 26-28, at the Basile Theatre at IF, 719 E. St. Clair, downtown Indianapolis. Get tickets at indyfringe.org.