Excellent Reviews for East Lynne Theater Company’s ‘Ah, Wilderness!’

Emma Palzere-Rae, Alison J. Murphy and Mark Edward Lang getting ready for a spin in the automobile in East Lynne Theater Company’s “Ah, Wilderness!”

Excellent reviews continue for “Ah, Wilderness!” presented by the award-winning Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company.

“Eugene O’Neill in a comic, summery vein… ELTC’s actors are endearing,” wrote Hugh Hunter in his Philadelphia Inquirer review.

“What summer theater should be… The story and this cast bring back sentimental joy in forgiveness, honesty, love and that first kiss. The ensemble scores on laughs and the night floats by on a breeze,” wrote Tom Sims in his Exit Zero review.

“Ah, Wilderness!” is the only comedy written by four-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Eugene O’Neill. It is one of his least performed due to the cast size of 14, involving ages 14 and up. Taking place on July 4th weekend in 1906 in a Connecticut town, it’s a timeless comedy about teenage growing pains – and love.

The cast: Jared Noah Aronoff, Connor J. Burke, Sydney Freihofer, Brigid Harrington, Rachel Holt, Mark Edward Lang, Mark Lazar, Rob LeMaire, Alison J. Murphy, Emma Palzere-Rae, Jakob Pender, Thomas Raniszewski and Evan Smilyk. Gayle Stahlhuth directs and plays a small role. “Ah, Wilderness!” marks her 99th production for ELTC since she was asked to become artistic director of this 37-year-old theater in 1999. It was the first professional company dedicated to early American plays in the country, and is still the only one in the state with this mission.

“Ah, Wilderness!” runs through Sept. 2, Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Cape May, 500 Hughes St. For information/reservations: (609) 884-5898 or www.eastlynnetheater.org. Tickets: $32-$17.