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
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