Footlight Players share Jacob Marley’s story
Jeff Wherley gives the audience an intense look while practicing a scene from “Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol.” Josie Sellers | Beacon
COSHOCTON – This holiday season the Footlight Players will tell you the story behind the classic Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”
“The more you know about ‘A Christmas Carol’ the more you will understand,” said Jon Cotterman, who is directing the play. “It’s Jacob Marley’s perspective and his opportunity to redeem himself.”
“Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol” will be performed at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 2-3, 9-10, and 16-17 at the Triple Locks Theater. Featured in the play are Jeff Wherley as Jacob Marley, Glenn Mishler as Scrooge, Leonard Hayhurst as Cratchit and Mendy Smucker as Bogle, the spirit guide in the play.
Mishler was on stage with Wherley, Cotterman and Hayhurst in a past Christmas production and is glad to be working with them.
“It’s been fun to work with them and in this play you get to see four people play several characters,” he said.
Wherley was recruited for his role by Cotterman and is enjoying being part of the production.
“It’s a completely different take on a story that everybody knows,” Wherley said.
A lot of local theater goers associate Wherley with funny plays, but he stresses that this one is not a comedy.
“It has slight humor,” he said. “I’d say it’s a drama with lighter moments. ‘A Christmas Carol’ is a time honored classic that is heartwarming, but if you really look at it, it’s a ghost story and this develops the ghostly side of it more.”
This is Smucker’s first time on stage at the Triple Locks.
“I’m enjoying everything,” she said. “The cast is very personable and I like seeing our progress. Each performance is a little bit different because it’s live theater.”
Tickets for “Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol” are $12 for adults and $7 for students. They can be purchased by calling the box office at 740-622-2959 from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday or from 2 to 4 p.m. on performance days or online at www.footlightplayers.com.
“It’s something different and gives you a twist on a Christmas story that is known and loved,” Smucker said.
Category: Arts & Entertainment
