Barbara Elliott
Contributing Writer
Jeff Marcum got into acting accidentally about 16 years ago when he answered a Craigslist ad for extras in a Zombie movie.
“I loved it, I got to rip a guy’s face off,” Marcum laughed.
His acting career has progressed nicely since then, including a couple of additional TV and movie parts and many roles in community theater productions in the Panhandle area of West Virginia. His latest gig is that of aspiring (and desperate) playwright Terence O’Keefe in the upcoming Pocahontas Drama Workshop production of Tom Dulack’s comedy “Breaking Legs.”
In his very first community theater production, Marcum quickly found himself thrown into the deep end. He was cast in “Catch Me if You Can” in a role that only had him on stage for about eight minutes, but he still attended all the rehearsals and, mercifully, learned almost all the lines. Eight days before opening night, he was informed that he now had the lead role, and a mad few days of intense rehearsals followed.
He says his favorite part was in “A Perfect Arrangement,” by Topher Payne.
“The cast and script were so good, and it was very emotional,” he recalls. “We performed in the Old Opera House in Charlestown.”
When he moved to Pocahontas County last year as a supervisor for the U.S. Postal Service, Marcum went in search of the local theater troupe and was directed to the Drama Workshop, which produces one community production each year. By the time he discovered it, he was too late to audition for last year’s pro- duction, but was first in line when director Margaret Baker announced auditions for “Breaking Legs.”
His character in this production is a long way from his Zombie days. Terence is a college professor who has written a play that has received some good notices in Belgium, Sweden and Buffalo. Now, he is frantically trying to secure backing to present it off-off Broadway.
The fun begins when Angie Graziano, one of his former students, introduces him to her mobster father – whose day job is owner of an Italian restaurant – and his circle of scary friends. These wise guys are willing to provide the backing – with a few conditions, of course. To add to Terence’s bewilderment, Angie has the hots for him despite their 20-year age difference. Angie is played by Drama Workshop newcomer Lauren Bowlin.
“There are a lot of clues as to how her father gets his money,” Marcum notes. “Sure, he does well with the restaurant, but not enough to finance a Broadway play.”
“I think his play is good,” he said.
He has made revisions and gone through the workshop phase, and he’s been beating the bushes for three years to get financing.
Angie’s attraction to him surprises him, he believes.
There is nothing that leads him to think this woman would be interested in him. He sells himself short about what he has to offer.”
Marcum is having a great time being on stage after a three-year hiatus.
“I love live theater,” he said. “Anything can happen. It helps when you have a cast like this that likes to have fun, as well. This show has come together nicely. I really like the chemistry that has developed over the last couple of months.”
“Breaking Legs” will be performed at the Pocahontas County Opera House Friday and Saturday, September 20 and 21, at 7:30 each night.
Language may not be appropriate for all ages. PG 13.
