Footlight Players to present ‘Beer for Breakfast’
Cyndi Shutt (Jessie) and Jeff Wherley (TJ) rehearse a scene for the upcoming Coshocton Footlight Players production of “Beer for Breakfast”.
COSHOCTON – When four lifelong friends decide to get together at a remote cabin in the woods for a guys-only weekend, it promises to be nothing but fun times reliving their glory days and of course, drinking a few beers. But when one of the guys can’t make it and his wife shows up in his place, it becomes a battle of the sexes to see who is the reigning gender.
The Coshocton Footlight Players will perform “Beer for Breakfast” on March 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, and 16 at 8 p.m. and March 10 at 2 p.m. at the Triple Locks Theatre, 411 Hydraulic Ave., Coshocton.
“They end up trying to do different tests to see who is the superior sex,” said Kathy Reid, director. “Although the play is called ‘Beer for Breakfast’, it’s not about drinking. It’s about the friendships between men and women and how they treat each other.”
The play features three men, Leonard Hayhurst (Mark), Jeff Wherley (TJ), and Denny Blanford (Richard), and one female, Cyndi Shutt (Jessie). Wherley heard about the play, read the script, and decided it would be perfect for the Coshocton Footlight Players to perform.
“I heard about it at a cast party and it sounded interesting to me,” said Wherley, who has been involved with the Footlight Players for about 20 years. “I asked for the script, I read it and I said, this is hilarious. I have to do this. I relate to these characters so well. I lobbied for it so much that they offered me to direct it.”
However, Wherley wanted to play the part of TJ, the lead male in the play, and he asked Reid if she would direct the play so that he could portray the character he originally identified with when he read the script.
“He [Wherley] brought the script to me a couple of years ago and said Kathy, I’d like to be in this play and I’d like for you to direct it,” said Reid. “For me, when I do plays, I like to do comedies, but not just for comedy’s sake. I like for there to be something more. Something you can take away and makes you think. I think the way they explore these relationships, friend to friend, man to woman. It makes you kind of sit back and think. It’s like decisions you make and how does that change the course of your life.”
This is Shutt’s fifth time on the Triple Locks Theatre stage. However, Jessie is the most challenging role she has done so far.
“Jessie is a lot like me,” said Shutt. “She has a very big personality and is not about to let the men have the upper hand. Some things in Jessie’s personal life, I have also gone through, so that makes it easier for me to identify with her character.”
In addition to four cast members onstage, there are four dedicated volunteers backstage to make sure the play runs smoothly. Jill Baumgardner runs the sound, Ann Rollman is the stage manager, Helen Schofield helps backstage, and Reid directs. Rollman and Schofield were in charge of onstage props and Nathan Mayse and Patty Wherley created the set design. The play is produced by Carol Remington.
Tickets are available by calling the theatre at 740-622-2959 from 7 – 9 p.m. and 2 – 4 p.m. on performance days or online at www.footlightplayers.com. Tickets are $12 for adults and $7 for students.
“It’s that whole male ‘I love you’ and I’m going to show you by insulting you,” said Wherley. “This play really hits home with men and women and shows they are completely different species. You hit middle age and after the hormones have ebbed, you can be slightly more objective and realize you can communicate this way.”
There will be a reception on opening night with beer tastings from Wooly Pig, wine, and light refreshments. Prior to the performance on opening night, there will be a presentation and reception celebrating Bettsy Gauerke’s induction into the OCTA Hall of Fame at 7 p.m.
On March 10, The Warehouse will be offering different varieties of beer for tasting to correspond with chili and with their breakfast sandwich from noon to 1:30 p.m. and then after the show from 4:30 – 6 p.m.
The next Coshocton Footlight Players production will be “Sweeny Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” which will be May 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, and 19.
Category: Arts & Entertainment
