New Jersey Stage 2017: Issue 8 | Page 112

have continue to resonate with audiences. I don’t know why any director would want to do a play unless the current audience could connect with it.” The cast includes three ac- tors who have worked with East Lynne Theater in the past, Matt Baxter Luceno, Jennie Bissell, and Mike Newman, and two who are new to the company: Ryan Genualdi, and Duncan M. Rog- ers. Joining the cast for the full production is Tara Reuter. Ryan portrays Sergeant Dilkes, and the other cast members play a vari- ety of soldiers and civilians from France, Germany, and the United States. Live music from the pe- riod is performed throughout. This is the fifth collaboration between East Lynne Theater and James Rana, a partnership that has been good for both. Stahl- huth says they work well togeth- er. Together they have crafted a production that will help people understand just how impressive it was for Americans to fight in World War I. It wasn’t simply a courageous act. It was danger- ous, costly, and difficult simply travelling overseas. “Their spirit was incredible,” said Stahlhuth. “And, at the same time, women were try- ing to get the right to vote and there were other issues in the country. There were those who were anti-war, but the spirit of just getting people over to Europe to help the Allies was extremely stunning. That’s the spirit of the play.” w A Year In The Trenches September 20 - October 14 East Lynne Theater Company, Cape May, NJ NJ STAGE 2017 - Vol. 4 No. 8 INDEX NEXT ARTICLE 112