Local pitiful theater troup is rich in cheer
Kirsten Koenig playing Jacob Marley and Ann German playing Scrooge during the Pitiful Players’ performance at Libby Care Center this week. (Bethany Rolfson/TWN)
The Pitiful Players will present Charles Dickens in Libby on Dec. 2, and Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. at the K.W. Maki Theatre and on Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. in Troy at the Lincoln Theatre. In the back row stand Suvari Neff, Nevaeh Neff, Susan James, Kirsten Koenig, Rick Ball, Morgan Hayes, Saryn Wilkinson, Tina Oliphant and Cindy Curtiss. In the front row sit Ethan Neff, Ann German, Keith Meyers, Dmitrii Walenter, Jo Ann Armstrong and Rocke Gifford.
This weekend, the Pitiful Players are staging Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”
The classic play and Dickens most popular work revolves around an elderly wealthy man by the name of Ebenezer Scrooge who despises Christmas almost as much as he despises people.
Libby’s Ann German takes on the role of Scrooge, who is visited by the three ghosts of Christmas past, present and future on Christmas Eve.
The Pitiful Players started 10 years ago when Keith Meyers decided he wanted to start his own theater group.
Meyers has been involved in theater for 15 years. Prior to that, he said he had no theater experience.
“I sat down to get my haircut one day and this gal said, ‘You have the neatest voice, have you ever considered doing theater,’ and I said, ‘yeah, that sounds like fun.’”
The next day, he was called in, and has been heavily involved in the theater community ever since as an actor, writer and director.
After spending a few years in other local community theaters, Meyers decided he wanted to start his own group, with one requirement — it had to be lighthearted and fun.
Now, 10 years after it started, the players put on at least three productions per year. They’ve performed plays such as “Life and Death,” “Macbeth,” “A Sherlock Holmes Christmas,” “The Magic, The Mystery of Poe” and “Alice in Wonderland” to name a few.
The name “pitiful” comes from the first play they ever performed, “The Curse of the Pitiful Pirates.” The name stuck over the years because, Meyers said, they’ve never spent too much time worrying about sets and props.
But while the players have been “pitiful” in design, they’ve also been rich in community support. Some local businesses, organizations and individuals have donated their space, clothes and other spare items to benefit the players.
Admission is free to the plays, but they do accept donations.
Looking back, Meyers said he’s seen many actors come and go, but the same lightheartedness and fun has never left.
Reporter Bethany Rolfson can be reached at 293-4124 or by email at reporter@thewesternnews.com