East Lynne Theater Company presents two events in time for Halloween: “Poe by Candlelight” on Saturday, Oct. 20 at 8 p.m., and the silent thriller “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” accompanied by Wayne Zimmerman on the organ, on Sunday, Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m., both at the First Presbyterian Church, 500 Hughes St. in Cape May.
This year, aside from reading stories by the master of the macabre for “Poe by Candlelight,” there will also be selections from “Frankenstein” to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Mary Shelley’s famous novel. Refreshments will be served in the hospitality room before the hour-long performance. Performing are Lee O’Connor and Gayle Stahlhuth.
Many scholars consider “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” (1920) to be the first great American horror film. Based on the 1886 novel by Robert Louis Stevenson about a good doctor who creates a potion that turns him into a monster, the film stars John Barrymore. Although Barrymore had been acting in films since 1914, he had not found the same success he enjoyed on stage until “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”
Wayne Zimmerman has accompanied films presented by ELTC since 2011, and his popularity is ever increasing with patrons driving in from Philadelphia and Princeton just to hear him.
Reservations may be made by calling (609) 884-5898, emailing eastlynneco@aol.com or visiting www.eastlynnetheater.org. Tickets for “Poe by Candlelight” are $12, and tickets for “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” are $15. Ages 12 and under are free for both.
“Sherlock Holmes’ Adventure of the Speckled Band” begins on Oct. 28.