Little Theatre to present a Titanic mystery
The Little Theatre of Tuscarawas County will present a regional premiere of the Titanic mystery thriller, “Scotland Road,” Thursday, Jan. 4 through Sunday, Jan. 14.
Director Don Irven said, “This is one of the most thrilling scripts I have ever read. I was first introduced to the show in 2014 when I saw an excerpt at the Ohio Community Theater Association state conference. I immediately purchased a copy of the script. I was so intrigued by this cutting that it was all I could think of for weeks. The playwright has written a script that reads like a best-selling Stephen King novel. The pace of the story grabs you from the very first word and doesn’t let go of you until the breathtaking ending. Think ‘X -Files.’”
Jeffrey Hatcher’s “Scotland Road” is described as a suspenseful mystery about greed, obsession and one of the greatest tragedies of the time — the Titanic. Inspired by an actual tabloid headline seen by the playwright, the mystery unravels when a fishing trawler picks up a young woman floating on an iceberg off the coast of Iceland. When rescued, she can only whisper one word: “Titanic.”
Cold, hungry and dressed in 19th century clothing, her response suggests the supernatural feeling that someone or something from the legendary disaster has surfaced from its watery grave. John, a man obsessed with the century-year-old tragedy, brings the woman and her caretaker to an undisclosed observation room off the coast of Maine. To save his own sanity, he must expose the elaborate hoax this mysterious woman has concocted — or has she?
Finally, the last living survivor from the Titanic is brought forth to test her. As time runs out, this tale becomes an intense cat and mouse thriller full of desperate twists and turns, as well as a detailed journey of history, artifacts and lost souls from the Titanic.
The theater will display historic items about the Titanic in the lobby including a model of the ship and one of the SOS telegrams that was transmitted as the ship was sinking. Videos from 1912, when the Titanic set sail, will be played, and a Q-and-A session will follow the evening performances on Jan. 6 and 13. Titanic lecturer Mandy Altimus Stahl, an archivist from the Massillon Museum, will lead the sessions.
Cast members include Chester Boffo as John, Elizabeth Thomakos as Halbrech, Haley Kimble as the woman and Roxie Long as Frances Kittle.
Irven’s production team includes Jack Thomas, assistant director; Kenn Holmes, scenic design; Tom Reed, lighting design; Matt Spies and Joe Compton, sound and video design; Elizabeth Thomakos, costumes; Autumn Stennett, production stage manager; Jay Cochran, props; Elly Haverfield, sound board operator; Debi DeVore, hair and wigs; Doug Kopp and Dan Wiandt, producers; Kait Gallagher-Wilsterman, social media; and Lee Elliott, publicity.
Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances will open at 7:30 p.m., with Saturday matinees at 2:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased for $15 at the door, through the KSU PAC box office at 330-308-6400 or online at www.thelittletheatreonline.org.
The Little Theatre is located at 466 Carrie Ave. NW in New Philadelphia. “Scotland Road” is sponsored by Jed, Machelle and Meghan Miller and is presented through agreement with Broadway Licensing.
