By Heather Collins
Emily Jackson has pursued acting since she was seven-years-old. A 2005 Hamilton Southeastern grad, Jackson joined the high school drama club and performed in “Macbeth Did It” and “Mr. Hobbs Vacation.” Now at 31, Jackson will take the stage to as the female lead in Agatha Christie’s “Spider’s Web” until Aug. 6 at the Center Stage Community Theater in Lebanon.
Jackson will play Clarissa Hailsham-Brown, a character Jackson describes as mischievous, dramatic and caring. In preparation for the show, Jackson has balanced her day-job in the facilities department at Allied Solutions in Carmel with rehearsal four times a week.
Jackson’s father, Dave Jackson, will also perform in the show as Constable Jones. Jackson said she enjoys the process, interconnectivity and support of the local community theatre network.
“In the process of putting on a show you become so close with everyone involved in the production. You might be strangers on day one, but by the end you’re as close as family. Together, we create something beautiful,” she said.
Agatha Christie’s “Spider’s Web” offers the mysterious, hair-raising thrills of a traditional Agatha Christie play, but with a comedic twist. Award-winning director Jan Jamison, who has directed several community theatre shows including “Suite Surrender” at the Carmel Community Playhouse in February, assisted the cast in comedically portraying the twist and turns of the play.
“[Jamison] does a wonderful job of helping us interpret the characters to make them human and to highlight the comedy of the script through our delivery of lines, body language and facial expressions,” Jackson said. “That humor balances well with the suspense of wondering ‘who done it?’ As always, Agatha Christie keeps you guessing until the end.”
Jackson will soon be preparing for her role at the dramaturge for the show “33 Variations” with Jamison in 2018.
Agatha Christie’s “Spider’s Web” will be performed until Aug. 6 at the Center Stage Community Theater, located at 604 Powell St., Lebanon. Tickets are $15 for adults and $13 for seniors. For more, call 765-894-5587 or visit brownpapertickets.com and search: Spider’s Web.
