Play brings message to Powers

By Guy D’Astolfo

YOUNGSTOWN — “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” an original musical by Derrick Brinkley, is getting an extra dose of relevance by Issue 3, the statewide measure that will bring casinos to Ohio. Voters passed the issue earlier this month.

The production revolves around a man whose life spins out of control by an addiction to gambling. Sisqo, the R&B singer best known for “The Thong Song,” and Carl Payne, who played a recurring character on both “The Cosby Show” and “Martin,” have supporting roles.

But the real message of “I Can’t Stop” is to cherish the love of a good woman, according to Brinkley, who is a gospel-music artist and playwright. The Detroit native wrote the script and all the music in the production.

The uplifting tale premiered in Detroit several months ago and has been on the road ever since. It makes a stop at Powers Auditorium on Saturday night for one show.

“It’s about a man who is sick of his wife nagging him about going to church and changing his life and his habits,” said Brinkley in a phone interview. “He is gambling, and it’s causing him to lose everything. He’s borrowing from his wife and even his children and losing money at the casino. He makes one statement — ‘I wish that my wife was out of my life’ — and gets a chance to see what his life would be like without her.”

Brinkley said the show makes a statement about the value of a wife “who has your best interests at heart, who’s in your corner, telling you the truth.”

Freddy Purdue plays the lead role of Papa Stone. Sisqo plays Roscoe, a longtime friend of Papa Stone’s, and Payne’s character is a bad influence on him.

The cast also includes Shirley Murdock, who plays a family friend.

“I Can’t Stop” is the fifth Brinkley-written musical that has been produced. Others include “Which Way Do I Turn,” “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” “Guilty Until Proven Innocent” and “A Woman’s Revenge,” his highest grossing work, which spent three years on the road.