Two supporters of history programming in Hopkinsville acted in a short play for this weekend’s Edgar Cayce Days seminar, performing roles as the clairvoyant, his wife and his assistant.
Andrew Troche played Cayce in “To Sleep Per Chance” on Saturday at the Pennyroyal Area Museum, while Grace Abernethy had two roles — as Cayce’s assistant, Gladys Turner, and his wife, Gertrude Evans Cayce.
Alissa Keller, executive director of the Museums of Historic Hopkinsville-Christian County, introduced the play, which was written by the late Mike Thomas, an arts and theater professional who grew up in Maysville.
Thomas studied theater at Western Kentucky University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree. He directed numerous shows and served as museum theater director at the Kentucky Historical Society’s Thomas D. Clark Center in Frankfort. He created museum installations for KHS and other museums and galleries across the state. He also had a stint as executive director of the Capitol Arts Alliance in Bowling Green.
Thomas died in December 2022. HIs Cayce play was previously produced in Frankfort and in Nova Scotia.
The Hopkinsville production was Troche’s debut as an actor.
Troche and Abernethy were founding members of the Hopkinsville History Foundation, and Abernethy writes the Hoptown Chronicle column “Brick & Mortar Monthly.”
Cayce was born March 18, 1877, at the Beverly community in southern Christian County. Known as the “Sleeping Prophet,” he was credited with helping hundreds of individuals by recommending treatments — after going into a self-induced trance and appearing to be asleep — for people suffering with a range of illnesses and conditions that traditional medicine often failed to resolve.
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
