The award-winning Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company’s popular “Tales of the Victorians” returns for its twenty-sixth year! Take tea at a lovely inn, indulge in homemade tasty treats, and listen to stories by famous American authors like O. Henry, Mary Wilkins Freeman, Mark Twain, and Zora Neale Hurston, read by ELTC performers and friends, for only $10.00. Children are always welcome, and ages 12 and under are free. As usual most of the “Tales” are in Cape May, but as of last year, a North Wildwood location has been added.
Performers include retired Fordham professor Bruce Andrews, a poet with forty published books; Michele LaRue, recently performed at Metropolitan Playhouse in NYC, whose late husband, Warren Kliewer founded ELTC; James Rana, the adaptor of ELTC’s upcoming “Huckleberry Finn” who is also in ELTC’s “Strictly Dishonorable;” Stephanie Garrett, who was in ELTC’s “Lost on the Natchez Trace” and “Rain;” Lee O’Connor, Sherlock in ELTC’s radio-style “Holmes’ Adventures;” and ELTC’s artistic director, Gayle Stahlhuth.
The summer schedule is every Thursday at 4:00p.m., beginning on June 18, except there will be no “Tales” on July 2. The first location is The Dormer House, 800 Columbia Ave., with Stephanie Garrett and Lee O’Connor.
Other “Tales:” June 25 at The Blue Rose Inn & Restaurant, 653 Washington St. with Bruce Andrews; July 9 at The Chalfonte Hotel, 301 Howard Street; July 16: The Peter Shields Inn, 1301 Beach Avenue with Michele LaRue; July 23: Candlelight Inn, 2310 Central Ave., North Wildwood with Stephanie Garrett and Lee O’Connor; July 30: The Blue Rose Inn & Restaurant with James Rana; Aug. 6: The Inn of Cape May, 7 Ocean Street; Aug. 13: The Chalfonte Hotel; Aug. 20: The Leach House, 1011 Lafayette St. and Aug. 27 at The Peter Shields Inn with Garrett and O’Connor.
This year, several unique “Tales” are planned. On Tuesday, June 30 from 3:00p.m. – 4:00p.m., it’s “Two Scoops and a Story” hosted by The Henry Sawyer Inn, 722 Columbia Ave., with homemade ice cream made by The Vanilla Bean Creamery, and Gayle Stahlhuth reading scenes from “The Wizard of Oz.” Adults are still $10, and ages 12 and under are $5.
On Thursday, August 20, “The Leach Diaries” will be performed by three actors (script-in-hand) at the home where Leach lived, 1011 Lafayette St., in Cape May. Based on his diaries, from 1870-1873, these excerpts were adapted into a play by Gayle Stahlhuth, and first performed in 2002. In 2004, Stahlhuth adapted another year from the diary for performances, and in 2005, published this reader’s theater script under the title “The Leach Diaries: The First Four Years.”
On Saturday, October 24 at 8:00p.m. at The First Presbyterian Church, 500 Hughes St., where ELTC is in residence, it’s “Poe by Candlelight.” Several ELTC actors will be reading their favorite stories by the master of the macabre just in time for Halloween.
Meanwhile, ELTC’s mainstage season opens with “Mr. Lincoln” starring Tom Byrn on June 17, with an after-show, opening-night party at Pier House Restaurant.
For information and to make reservations for “Tales of the Victorians” and the mainstage season, call 609-884-5898 or go online to www.eastlynnetheater.org.