ABINGDON, Va. — Nick Koesters is doing it all.
The scenery, the set-up, the acting, the di recting.
That’s what a one-man show is all about, says this member of the resident company at the Barter Theatre.
Only, while Koesters’ one-man show is being featured at the Barter Theatre Stage II on Jan. 19-21, his production of “Side Effects May Include” is not a Barter show.
It’s a solo act — in every sense of the word.
“Basically, I’m the one doing this,” said Koesters, 45. “It’s purely a passion project on my end ... I’m donating my time. I’m donating my efforts.”
It’s also an adult show — with comical themes about what happens to folks in middle-age as they face a disease called Parkinson’s.
That includes dealing with the potential of keeping the disease a secret from employers or how to simply keep up with an over-abundance of pills piling up at bedside.
“And I’m going to hopefully fill the stage with pill bottles,” Koesters said. “That’s part of the joke.”
Adults Only
This one-man play, co-written by author and stand-up comedian Marc Jaffe and Broadway playwright Eric Coble, is based on Jaffe’s real life experiences with his wife, Karen, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2007.
Bursting with comedy, the play tells the story of how Parkinson’s affected their lives, the choices they made in dealing with the disease, and the literal and figurative side effects of those choices.
Warning: The play contains adults-only themes, which Koesters says “may not be appropriate for people under 18 years of age.”
Three uncles in Koesters’ family suffer from this disease.
That’s why this means so much to this actor, who grew up in Ohio and came to act at the Barter Theatre in 2011, starring in such shows as last year’s “The Music Man.”
“With this show, I want to bring together a whole community of individuals and families dealing with Parkinson’s, support groups, and organizations working to educate, research, and treat the disease,” Koesters said.
“I want to help bring awareness to the community at large and provide a setting where support systems in the region can come together with families like ours whose lives are directly affected by this challenging disease.”
Taking turns
For the Jaffes, since learning of Karen’s diagnosis, dealing with Parkinson’s has also become a mission to do more to help the world.
Over the past decade, the Jaffes have raised over $1 million for the Michael J. Fox Foundation through their nonprofit organization, Shaking With Laughter.
Koesters has been friends with the Jaffes for years. And, a few years ago in Cleveland, Ohio, Koesters performed in the original production of “Side Effects May Include.”
In a rehearsal hall at the Barter Theatre on Thursday, Koesters burst with energy, always keeping all the lines — and characters — in his head.
At one point, he portrays a woman.
Then he turns and plays her husband.
Then that husband turns and talks to a rabbi.
Then Koesters turns and becomes that rabbi.
His voice changes. So do the looks on his face.
At the end of the day – or, you could say, at the end of this play, there’s no use in counting scenes.
No use, even, in counting characters.
There are just so many in this one-hour and 40-minute ride.
Which makes it, really, a lot of fun.
“He’s a great actor, and it’s a great cause that he’s doing this for,” said Bill Hartley, Barter Theatre’s advancement officer for institutional relations.
‘An opportunity’
At the door, Koesters is keeping the cost low for the public, charging just $5 a ticket.
But he’s asking folks for donations to help benefit several organizations dealing with Parkinson’s Disease.
Koesters, too, also says he simply enjoys the challenge of acting out this play on stage.
“That’s why I took this,” he said. “This gives me an opportunity to do a show that I don’t do at the Barter.”
http://www.heraldcourier.com/community/nick-koesters-s-passion-project-for-parkinson-s-disease/article_45e2699e-f7ee-11e7-b9cb-1b1ef4f7bf40.html
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