Zoar church to present 'High Hopes Rising'
Some churches have dinners after Sunday services, but at the Zoar United Church of Christ, a dedicated group of thespians have play rehearsals.
The unusual practice time came about a couple of years ago when the cast had trouble getting everyone together for rehearsal.
The group’s most recent play, "High Hopes Rising," will be presented on Friday, Nov. 17 and Saturday, Nov. 18 at 7:30 p.m. each night. The church is located at 142 E. Fifth St. in Zoar.
Freewill donations will be accepted at the event to be used for church improvements. To enhance the play, curtains will be put up in the front of the church to turn it into a true stage.
“It’s a historically accurate story and an old-time comedy,” said Shane Clay, who serves as the director and also plays the role of Paul.
In their fifth year of producing yearly plays, "High Hopes Rising" is no amateur production. An original script written by Rev. Ken Hutchinson, former pastor at the church, the play takes on the story of Paul, who was once against Christ and did everything he could to destroy his followers, to Paul’s change of heart and founding of the Christian church in three hilarious acts: “Trouble in Tarsus,” “On the Road to Rome” and “Just Call Me Nero.”
“It’s a great group to work with,” said Hutchinson, who plays the role of Emperor Nero. “Everyone has a good sense of humor. They never taught this in seminary, that you can get your people to laugh while teaching them about Christ.”
The troupe assembles in the spring first, and then Hutchinson writes the play to fit the number of actors and their abilities.
“Rev. Ken does a great job with the scripts,” Clay said, describing the play as openly creative. “Collectively the group continues to come up with ideas too. We all like to take ownership of our characters. That is part of the fun. The players, narrator and God go back and forth. You learn by doing. The first couple of years it was all about the props; we were dragging them in and out. Now we’ve gotten a little smarter. Less is more.”
With his clear booming voice, Wayne Roth serves as the sound man and voice of God. He has already been in the play for several years as God.
“It’s great. I don’t have to memorize anything or get into a costume,” he said.
And he gets to sit with the play’s official mascot, Buddy, an 8-year-old Schnoodle (part Schnauzer and part Poodle) who was rescued from the pound.
Roth’s wife Patty plays the role of Paul’s mother Ruthie. “I weep and wail the entire time I’m on stage,” she said with a laugh. “I wanted Paul to be a doctor and not persecute Christians. It’s a good biblical message, but it’s fun. It’s about the rift between Peter and Paul and how they come together to form a new church.”
The plays are a delight to watch. The actors’ performances are “over the top” as they connect with their audience and humor takes center stage.
“God” chimes in with comments about what he really thinks of certain situations with the actors and the play’s narrator Brian Cave, also known as classic theater guy.
Marty Holter is credited with the creative costuming and props used in the presentation. She also plays the role of Sabina, the wife of Emperor Nero.
Other church members involved in the play are Tom Castleberry as Jacob, father of Paul; Debby Trump as Ruthie’s friend Margo; Melanie Clay as Debbie the Soothsayer; Rich Plant as Spartacus; Preston Cave as Young Galby, who is an emperor in training; and Drew Hutchinson as Peter. Mary Clay serves as producer and looks after all the many details of putting on the play.
Proceeds from past plays have funded remodeling, the church’s basement and added storage and provided for new brick sidewalks outside the church. The historical church building has been in continuous use since it was built in 1853.