NEWS

Comedy, camaraderie featured in Footlight Players show

Leonard Hayhurst
Community Content Coordinator
  • "The Foursome" opens March 6 by the Coshocton Footlight Players at the Triple Locks Theater.
  • The comedy centers around four college friends talking about life while playing a round of golf.
  • "The Foursome" stars Denny Blanford, Nathan Mayse, Shane Pyle and Jeff Wherley.
  • Kathy Reid is director with Marsha Cusin as producer.

COSHOCTON – Playing four longtime friends who like to josh each other came naturally to the veteran cast of "The Foursome."

Director Kathy Reid couldn't imagine facing the challenges of the golf course set comedy with another group of guys. Each scene is based on one hole played plus a final trip to the clubhouse, with a lot of dialogue and golf swings to memorize.

However, being an avid golfer isn't necessary to enjoy the production set to open March 6 at the Triple Locks Theater, members of the Footlight Players cast said. The play centers around four friends who reunite for a golf game during their college reunion weekend.

Shane Pyle and Nathan Mayse rehearse a scene from the comedy “The Foursome,” set to open March 6 at the Triple Locks Theater. The Coshocton Footlight Players production revolves around four college buddies who play golf as part of their 25th class reunion.

The production is a sort of reunion itself: Stars Denny Blanford, Nathan Mayse, Shane Pyle and Jeff Wherley last all appeared on stage together 10 years ago in "Flaming Idiots."

"Having the four of us together again is wonderful," Pyle said. "It's been a lot of fun, but a challenge. Keeping everything straight has been tough, but it's a challenge you try to rise to."

Pyle's Rick is the consummate bachelor and schemer of the group. He has a long-running rivalry with Blanford's Ted, who recently remarried, and teases Mayse's Donnie, who talks constantly about his five children. The final friend is Cameron, an average guy, which signals a departure for Wherley, who usually portrays eccentric characters.

Jeff Wherley and Denny Blanford rehearse a scene from the comedy “The Foursome,” set to open March 6 at the Triple Locks Theater. The Coshocton Footlight Players production revolves around four college buddies who play golf as part of their 25th class reunion.

"It's how guys talks when guys get together," Wherley said of the dialogue. "We don't talk about our feelings. We don't talk about what's really bothering us. We talk about sports and women and that sort of stuff, but through those conversations, things come up. As hard as it might be to believe, this play has little to do with golf."

Reid laughed out loud when she read the script, which she said isn't always the case, even with a comedy. She owns a set of golf clubs, but they've never seen the links with her. The game is merely a backdrop for character engagement.

"You don't have to be a golf enthusiast or have a spouse who's a golf enthusiast to enjoy this. It's more about if you can go home again," she said of the play's focus.

llhayhur@coshoctontribune.com

740-295-3417

Twitter: @llhayhurst


Shane Pyle, Nathan Mayse, Jeff Wherley and Denny Blanford rehearse a scene from the comedy “The Foursome,” set to open March 6 at the Triple Locks Theater. The Coshocton Footlight Players production revolves around four college buddies who play golf as part of their 25th class reunion.

If you go

• What: "The Foursome" by the Coshocton Footlight Players

• When: 8 p.m. March 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21

• Where: Triple Locks Theater, 686 N. Whitewoman St.

• FYI: Tickets are $12 for adults and $7 for students. Tickets are available by calling the box office at 740-622-2959 from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 2 to 4 p.m. on show days or going to footlightplayers.com.