From my gifted cast I discovered some fascinating things about the play during the rehearsal process. We staged our production in the sanctuary of an historic church in Peapack-Gladstone, and one of the values of the play that I was especially interested in developing was Wilder’s use of music. Some productions omit the music; we made the music a very important part of our interpretation.

The hymn “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” ties the whole play together, and that’s pretty apparent, as is the choir singing “Love Divine, All Love Excelling” at the wedding. But there are two other pieces of music that aren’t so obvious. In Act I, while Dr. Gibbs is gently scolding his son George for not doing his chores, Simon Stimson is rehearsing the hymn “Art Thou Weary, Art Thou Languid.” The juxtaposition is, I think, a touch of Wilder humor. I’m not sure many in the audience will put the two together and see the joke, but I’ve always encouraged my actors to “play to the one percent” with the hope that someone will figure out what we’re up to.

During the wedding scene of Act II, Wilder indicates in his script that the organ should play Handel’s “Largo” as a prelude. It’s a familiar melody, and the Stage Manager even mentions this selection in the middle of the first act. During a rehearsal, my music director asked me, since we already had a choir on stage for this scene, if I wanted to use a choral version of the piece. My response was to give it a try, and what we discovered was while Mrs. Webb was delivering her poignant speech about sending a daughter into marriage without any real preparation, the choir was gently singing in the background, “Trust in the Lord, Trust in the Lord.” I am sure Wilder knew the words, and my guess is that he didn’t include them in his text because of copyright restrictions. And did our audiences see this connection? Yes, many did. The moment was very powerful.

For our curtain calls, the organist played Copland’s “Simple Gifts” from Appalachian Spring. We followed the dynamics on the Bernstein recording, with the music reaching its dramatic peak as George, Emily and then the Stage Manager entered for their bows. It was an excellent choice.

In addition to a traditional story of good triumphing over evil, the production will also feature a generous selection of musical numbers featuring favorite songs of the Gay 90’s. Co-directing are Allen Crossett of Gladstone and Hugh Wallace of Whippany, with Henry Repp of Rockaway as musical director and Anne Hampson of Hackettstown as vocal director. The producer is Linda Jean Lipkin of Bernardsville, and the stage manager is Gail Solomon of Bedminster.

Opening night, on Friday, October 18, will again be a benefit for the Peapack-Gladstone Public Library. Tickets for the benefit are $25 each and may be purchased at the library or at the door.

Additional performances will be given on Saturday, October 19, and the following week, Thursday through Saturday, October 24 to October 26, with tickets at $15 each. Curtain each evening is 8 p.m., and because seating is limited, those planning to attend are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance.

Featured in the cast will be Debbie Glicklich-Fliegauf of Phillipsburg as Felicity Fair, the persecuted heroine who is more sinned against than sinning. Tom Laureys of Netcong will portray the manly-bosomed hero Malvern Larkfield, who raises stinkweeds, and Dave Villepique of Chester will play the part of Cyril Bothingwell, who is steeped in villainy and who will stop at nothing to gain his foul ends.

Beth Gleason of Chester will portray Regina, the hero’s hard-hearted mother, with Shannon Ludlum of Basking Ridge as Lona, the hero’s little sister who has a heart of gold.

Patricia Idell of Martinsville will play the part of the scheming Nella, who has fallen in love with the hero’s wealth, with Catherine Schrein of Basking Ridge as her mother Geraldine. Frank Higbie of Bound Brook will be seen as the family physician, with Chris Winans of Convent Station as the butler with a past, and Ashley Lund-Pearson as the French maid.

Peapack Reformed Church is located on Main Street across from the Gladstone railroad station. Additional information is available by calling the Peapack Players hotline at 908/234-2979.

With its traditional mixture of storytelling and music, the origin of melodrama can be traced back to the Greek plays. The word came into the language, however, in France in the 1760’s as melodrame, and the French melodrames, noted Quinn, were sensational plays, “abounding in terrifying incidents, artificially motivated characters, overstated pathos, or tensions arbitrarily provoked by chance.” By the end of the 19th century, because labor was inexpensive, melodramas typically featured elaborate stage settings–a treadmill with real horses for the chariot races of Ben Hur, for example. Because these sets were so complex, it took time to make the change from one scene to another, and to keep the audience from getting restless, the actors were asked to appear before the curtain to perform whatever entertainment they were capable of providing.

There would be singing, dancing, comic routines, pantomime, juggling, whatever, and initially there was no thematic link between these entertainments and the melodrama itself. They became known as “olios,” a word that literally means “a heavily spiced stew of meat, vegetables, and chickpeas.” For this play, we are working with a very simple set, but between the acts we will be providing some tasty musical numbers in the tradition of the melodrama of a century ago.

Another tradition of the old-fashioned melodrama is audience participation. Our Master of Ceremonies will tell you all about that in greater detail just before we begin, but you might right now start to prepare to contribute some spirited cheers for our hero and heroine, and some hisses and boos for our nefarious villain. That’s all part of the fun.

Friday, October 18, 8pm
Opening Night Benefit Performance
for Peapack-Gladstone Public Library
All seats $25.00
May be purchased in advance at the Library or at the Door on the evening of the performance.

Saturday, October 19, 8pm
Thursday, October 24, 8pm
Friday, October 25, 8pm
Saturday, October 26, 8pm
All seats $15.00
For Reservations, please call the Peapack Players hotline at (908)234-2979.

Felicity Fair (152)
Our persecuted heroine, who is more sinned against than sinning. She is in her middle 20’s, and, according to the script, suffering and sorrow have left their mark on her beautiful face. So radiant are her charms, however, that nothing can spoil the loveliness that shines from within.

Malvern Larkfield (247)
Our manly-bosomed hero, who raises stinkweeds in the hope of growing a medicinal herb. Here is a hero who would set any girl’s heart aflame. Tall, robust, as handsome and gallant as a knight of old. He has a poetic nature; his every action proclaims the tender sentiments that dwell within his heart. In his middle 20’s and clean-shaven.

Mrs. Regina Larkfield (204)
Malvern’s hard-hearted mother, who is determined that Malvern shall marry shallow and artifical Nella. In her middle 50’s, she is an imperious and domineering woman who will resort to anything to get her own way.

Lona Larkfield (68)
Malvern’s young sister, who has a heart of gold. She is a pretty girl of 19 or so who appears to be even younger than she really is.

Brockton (151)
An ex-criminal now employed as the Larkfield’s butler. Described in the text as in his middle 50’s, of medium height with white hair and long sideburns. More important than his age and size is his personality. He has an impassive manner and is meek and servile.

Denise (40)
A French maid in her early 20’s, a pretty and vivacious girl who speaks with a French accent.

Cyril Bothingwell (158)
An unscrupulous villain who is steeped in infamy and who will stop at nothing to gain his foul ends. Described as a tall, powerfully built rogue in his early 30’s, steeped in the ways of treachery and deceit. Could easily be older. Suave and debonair, he gives the impression of being a man of the world. In reality he is shrewd, cunning and crafty, a ruthless villain who does not know the meaning of fair play.

Nella Hargrave (71)
Who insists that she has fallen in love with Malvern but in reality plans to double-cross him after she is married by getting his money and spending it on herself. She about 30 years of age, but strives mightily to look younger than she really is. Like Regina, she is shallow and affected and uses a broad “A” at all times. She presents a stunning appearance.

Mrs. Geraldine Hargrave (25)
Nella’s mother, who enjoys bad health. Described as a woman of 50 who is always complaining about how she feels.

Dr. Hugo Belch (44)
Regina’s physician. He is described in the text as a short, thin man of sixty, but his age and size are not important. He is of a fussy temperament, easily upset, the type of man who is putty in the hands of a woman like Regina.

Debbie Glicklich-Fliegauf (Felicity Fair) is returning to Peapack Reformed Church after having performed as one of the Weeping Women in A Living Passion. She has also been seen in The Boyfriend (Dulcie), Trial By Jury (Forewoman) and Twelve Angry Jurors (Juror #11). In addition, Debbie has sung with the Warren County Community Singers of Washington, NJ, and she is a member of “The grownups Playground,” an improvisational comedy troupe that performs at the NY Comedy Club. Longer range, she wants to become more involved with independent filmmaking and has written a screenplay that she plans to produce someday. Debbie thanks her family for all their support, Greg for all of his love and infinite patience, and her “agent” for getting her back into the loop.

Tom Laureys (Malvern Larkfield) began acting just to try something new and fun. His stage debut was at Pax Amicus Theater in a production of Beauty and the Beast. He immediately caught the acting bug and returned for three more shows at Pax Amicus before exploring other area theaters. He has performed in 16 shows including California Suite at Dover Little Theater, The Visitor at Parsippany Playhouse, Lend Me a Tenor at Rockaway Townsquare Players and again at the Bickford Theater at the Morris Museum (“because it was so much fun I had to do it again.”), The Man Who Came to Dinner and The Foreigner at the Black River Playhouse in Chester, and Treasure Island at The Growing Stage. He has also performed in several dinner theater productions portraying the detective in a murder mystery and the groom in a mock wedding. Tom comes from a large family including five brothers and four sisters, and his mother, who has seen every one of his plays.

Beth Gleason (Mrs. Regina Larkfield) was most recently seen in September Song singing “Blow, Gabriel, Blow” and “Give ‘em What They Want” with the Ridge Light Opera Company in Basking Ridge. For that production she was also responsible for costuming. By day, she teaches dance and gymnastics and she is currently guest director for the dramatics program at the Gill St. Bernards School where the senior high production of Curious Savage will be performed in November. Next spring, she will direct and choreograph the musical Once On This Island. She has also directed Lucky Stiff, The 1940’s Radio Hour, and Little Shop of Horrors, and has appeared in Dames at Sea (Mona and Joan), Nine (Carla), Bye, Bye Birdie (Rosie), Anything Goes (Bonnie), The Servant of Two Masters (Beatrice), among others.

Shannon Ludlum (Lona Larkfield), a senior at Gill St. Bernards, is happy to be making her Peapack Players debut. She is currently rehearsing the role of Miss Willie in the school’s forthcoming production of The Curious Savage. Since the sixth grade, Shannon has been appearing in her school productions, and her most memorable roles have been as Agnes in Meet Me in St. Louis, Mary Jane (“the blonde bombshell”) in Damn Yankees, and Rita in Lucky Stiff. She also performed in The Secret Garden with the Gill Community Players. Shannon would like to thank Beth and Dave for telling her about this opportunity with the Peapack Players (“Love you guys! Thanks for all your help and support.”) her ma (“Thanx Maa!”), and the cast of Caught in the Villain’s Web (“This has been a wonderful experience.”) Shannon dedicates her performance to her cousin Jeanette, who is her inspiration and friend.

Ashley Lund-Pearson (Denise, the French Maid) is completing her senior year at Bernards High, looking toward a career in marketing/Computer Sciences. She is a seasoned actor as she has played the part of Sarah Bernhardt for seventeen years, a prima ballerina at age four, a consummate Shower Vocalist, skilled varsity epee escrime, and award-winning photographer. Ashley would like to thank her family and friends for their support and encouragement.

Chris Winans (Brockton) as appeared in The Servant of Two Masters and Our Town at Peapack Reformed and considers himself a Peapack Players veteran. He won an AVY award for stage managing Piano Bar, and he is currently a member of the board of Trilogy Repertory. This past summer, he stage-managed Romeo and Juliet for Trilogy’s Plays in the Park.

Dave Villepique (Cyril Bothingwell), when not managing assets for his brokerage clients as a financial advisor, can be found extolling the virtues of his two daughters or performing on the community stage. Over the years, he has acted with Trilogy, Chatham, Chester, Barn, and here with the Peapack Players in drama, musicals and comedy. Favorite roles include the Stage Manager (Our Town), Bernard (Don’t Dress for Dinner), Victor Velasco (Barefoot in the Park), and Larabie Sr. (Sabrina Fair). He has also been seen in The Scarlet Pimpernel (Robespierre), 1776 (Hancock), Oklahoma! (Ike), Joseph…Dreamcoat (Jacob), and in Camelot, Amadeus, Six Degrees of Separation, Anything Goes, and as the Captain in Dames at Sea. Dave’s big fear is that this role in Caught in the Villain’s Web will will typecast him irredeemably.

Patricia Idell (Nella Hargrave) is thrilled to be in her first performance with the Peapack Players. A mother of four lively children, she enjoys driving, working with teenagers and storytelling. In her spare time she attends Fairleigh Dickinson University where she is pursuing a Master’s degree in Education. Patricia would like to thank Allen for the opportunity to play such a character, Jess and Christopher for endless babysitting, Caileigh for her help with characterization, Chris for his patience, and Liam for just being himself

Catherine Schrein (Mrs. Geraldine Hargrave) moved to Basking Ridge four years ago where she is Manager of the Environmental Education Center for the Somerset County Park Commission. A mother of three grown children and a grandmother of twin boys, Catherine completed two majors at the University of Toledo (education and theater) and completed coursework in Theatre Education at NYU. Her love of theater began in grade school and she later appeared in high school productions. Acting credits includes appearances in Death Trap, Spoon River Anthology, Our Town, Meet Me in St. Louis, Life with Father and You Can’t Take It with You. “Discovering the Peapack Players,” she says, “has added a wonderful new dimension to my life in Somerset County. I am very happy and proud to be a member of the Caught in the Villain’s Web cast and look forward to future productions.

Frank Higbie (Dr. Hugo Belch) is a chemist (M.S. in chemistry from U. Mass) at Akzo Nobel in New Brunswick and lives in Bridgewater with his wife Lois, a math professor at Brookdale Community College. His daughter Meredith is a graduate of Skidmore College where she majored in Geology, and son David went to Brown (history major) and currently attends flight school in Florida. He has appeared in productions of Arsenic and Old Lace at Circle Theater, Rehearsal for Murder and Laura in Westfield, On Borrowed Time with the Philathaliens, You Can’t Take It With You at Dover Little Theater, and How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying in Plainfield. Among his favorite roles is that of Mr. Stanley in the Chester Theatre Group production of The Man Who Came to Dinner.

Linda Jean Lipkin (Producer) has been involved over the years in acting, singing, dancing and costuming in a variety of community theater events both here and in New Hampshire, As a member of the Amherst Community Players, she participated in productions of Paint Your Wagon, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, The Importance of Being Earnest, and Plaza Suite. At Peapack Reformed Church, Linda appeared in the Trilogy Repertory production of The Servant of Two Masters and last year produced, costumed, and appeared on stage in Our Town with the Peapack Players. Linda’s greatest enjoyment was realized through her years with the Amherst Follies, a cabaret theater dance troupe that performed at numerous events throughout New Hampshire.

Allen Crossett (Co-director) helped to create Trilogy Repertory more than 20 years ago and remains grateful to Jaye Barre, the current Trilogy president, for her continuing support. Among Allen’s favorite projects were the Trilogy productions of Vanities, The Taming of the Shrew, The Servant of Two Masters, Don’t Dress for Dinner, The Crucible and his own Winter Nights. He also fondly recalls directing Ten Nights in a Barroom for The New Theater of Bernardsville, and last fall’s production of Our Town for the Peapack Players. His reviews of professional theater in New Jersey appear regularly in the newspapers of the Recorder Publishing Company.

Hugh Wallace (Co-director) has been active in area community theater, both on stage and off, for the past 20 years. Some of his favorite roles include Starbuck in The Rainmaker, Biondello in The Taming of the Shrew, and Truffaldino in The Servant of Two Masters. Two summers ago, he directed Scapino! for Trilogy Repertory’s Plays in the Park, and last fall he portrayed Dr. Gibbs in the Peapack Players production of Our Town.

Gail Solomon (Stage Manager) brings to this production more than two decades of experience with both community and professional theater in New Jersey. Most recently, she worked as Assistant Stage Manager for numerous productions at the Bickford Theatre at the Morris Museum in Morristown. She also has a host of acting credits, including such roles as Clarissa Hailsham Brown in Agatha Christie’s Spider’s Web, Maggie in The Man Who Came to Dinner, and Augusta Ames in Gramercy Ghost. This production marks her debut with the Peapack Players.

Henry Repp (Music Director/Piano Player) is the organist/choir director at Peapack Reformed Church. He studied with Robert McDonald at Riverside Church, New York, and the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark. He has accompanied Messiah performances for many years with the Dover Area Oratorio Choir. He has also been accompanist for the Sussex County Oratorio Society, the Livingston Festival Choir Concerts, and the Livingston Broadway Show Tunes Revue. In additional, he has performed in numerous concerts at St. Thomas Church in Manhattan, the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Newark, and others. Henry was the musical director for the Peapack Players’ production last year of Our Town.

Anne Hampson (Vocal Director/Soloist) includes among her professional stage credits the national and international tours of Ken Hill’s Phantom of the Opera and numerous Gilbert & Sullivan productions. CD credits include performing with the Fugs in the rock opera Star Peace. Anne, who is the alto soloist and group leader of the senior choir at Peapack Reformed, was a member of the Our Town choir in the Players’ 2001 production.

Scripts will be provided for readings. Rehearsals of the melodrama will start in late summer. Performances will be given on October 18, 19, 25 and 26.

The Peapack Reformed Church is a white, clapboard structure located on Main Street and Mendham Road in Gladstone, directly opposite the Gladstone railroad station.

For more information, please call or e-mail director Allen Crossett (908-234-0216 or dallen@gti.net) or producer Linda Lipkin (908-696-0161).

A local map with driving directions can be found at the Peapack Reformed Church website.

In this play, life, death, and the hereafter are experienced by the people of Grover’s Corners, a mythical New Hampshire village at the turn of the century. The story is told in episodic fashion by a “stage manager” narrator, and centers around the relationship between Dr. Gibb’s son George and newspaper editor Mr. Webb’s daughter Emily. We see these two as they go to school together, fall in love over sodas at the corner drugstore, marry, and then suffer tragedy. We also meet many of the other people of the village, learning of their lives and dreams as well. The play is delightful yet profound, humorous and sad, picturesque and enlightening.

Opening night on Friday, October 19 will be a benefit for the Peapack-Gladstone Library, and all seven of the community’s restaurants and caterers will be donating very special refreshments for the intermissions. Additional performances are scheduled for October 20, 26, and 27. All curtain times are 8:00pm.

The large cast assembled for this production will feature Dave Villepique of Chester as the Stage Manager, Pamela Renee of Ocean Grove as Emily Webb, and Jon Biber of Succasunna as George Gibbs. Irene Weaver of Bernardsville will play the part of Mrs. Webb, with Bob Sutton of Gladstone as Editor Webb, Tina Darrah of Gladstone as Mrs. Gibbs, and Hugh Wallace of Basking Ridge as Dr. Gibbs.

Additional cast members include Vin Girardy, T. R. Kimpland, Jr., Cailyn DeBie, Sheila Lund-Pearson, Ken Lund-Pearson, David Lipkin, Linda Lipkin, Steve Miller, Chris Winans, James Doherty, Elaine Helbig, Miriam Johnson, and Drew Thomson.

Serving as Music Director is Henry Repp. The production is directed by Allen Crossett and produced by Linda Lipkin.

Hugh Wallace (Dr. Gibbs) has been active in area community theater, both on stage and off, for the past 20 years. Some of his favorite roles include Starbuck in The Rainmaker, Biodello in Taming of the Shrew, and Truffaldino in Servant of Two Masters. This past summer, he directed Scapino for Trilogy Repertory’s “Plays in the Park.”

Steve Miller (Joe Crowell, Si Crowell, Ballplayer #1) is very happy to be working with such a talented cast. He was recently seen in the ensemble for the New Jersey premiere of Jekyll & Hyde. He has trained with the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival for two years and is currently a student at the Boonton School for Performing and Visual Arts. Among his favorite roles are Harley in Princess and the Goblin, Templeton in Charlotte’s Web, Ichabod Crane in Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Howie in Mother Hicks, and Cobweb in Midsummer Night’s Dream. He also appeared in the ensemble in Little Mary Sunshine and Evita. In addition to his work on stage, Steve also has been busy with sound and light design and operation for productions of Steel Magnolias, Baby With the Bath Water, The Mousetrap, A Chorus Line, and others. He has also helped to design and build sets for Jesus Christ Superstar, Legend of Sleepy Hollow, The Mikado, A Chorus Line, and Fiddler on the Roof.

Chris Winans (Howie Newsom) is appearing in his second show at this church. The first was Servant of Two Masters. He has been very active the last 15 years with Trilogy Repertory in Basking Ridge, serving most recently as stage manager for Scapino! He also won an AVY in ’91 for stage man-aging Piano Bar for TNT. He is currently a member of the Trilogy board.

Tina Darrah (Mrs. Gibbs) lives in Gladstone with husband Clark, daughter Blair (3) and son Conan (1). Before staying home with her children, she work-ed for Nordstrom in Advertising and Special Events. She is also a freelance makeup artist. Past theater experience was in high school in Rochester, NY, where she was Narrator in Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Ms. Higa Jiga in Teahouse of the August Moon, with additional supporting roles in Bells Are Ringing, Witness for the Prosecution, Little Mary Sunshine, and Mr. Roberts. Favorite pastimes are running, reading, solving the NY Times crossword puzzle, spending time with her family, and attending her husband’s triathlons.

Irene Weaver (Mrs. Webb) is glad to be working with Allen again, having previously been directed by him in A Flea in Her Ear (twice), Servant of Two Masters, and Allen’s very own award-winning Ten Thousand Days. She has also been featured in Love Letters (Dave Villepique directing), Chapter Two, Hay Fever, Finishing Touches, Little Mary Sunshine, Brigadoon, The Music Man, and others. It is great to be on stage again after a long time away, and to be working with old friends and making new ones.

Jonathan Biber (George Gibbs), now 16 years old, started acting at age 10 as the Mayor in The Wizard of Oz at the Growing Stage. Here his performances also included two productions of The Nutcracker, first as a Mouse and then as a Soldier. In 1999, Jon was Captain Keller in The Miracle Worker at Eisenhower Middle School in Roxbury. The following year he portrayed Daddy Warbucks in Annie, Jr., also at Eisenhower. This year he portrayed the Starkeeper in the Roxbury High School production of Carousel.

Cailyn DeBie (Rebecca Gibbs), a resident of Gladstone, attends the Middle School in Bernardsville. This is her first appearance in community theatre, but her experience includes roles in school and church productions, most notably a recent Christmas Pageant at Peapack Reformed and participation in a regional summer camp program for the performing arts. Cailyn aspires to be a professional actor.

Jesse Doherty (Wally Webb) is making his stage debut with this appearance in Our Town. He is in the fifth grade at Hackettstown Middle School and in his free time especially enjoys drawing.

Pamela Reneé (Emily Webb) is making her New Jersey debut in this production of Our Town. A native of Pennsylvania, she earned a BA in Theatre at the University of Pittsburgh where she portrayed Anne Frank in Diary of Anne Frank, Edna St. Vincent Millay in a one-woman production of A Lovely Light, Marianne in Tartuffe, Honey in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Sorel Bliss in Hay Fever, Lucia in Long Christmas Dinner, Rebecca Gibbs in Our Town, and Willie in This Property is Condemned. In addition, she portrayed Anybodys in West Side Story with the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra. She also appeared as an extra in the films Earthly Possessions and Knightriders. Most of her professional theatre career took place in the 1400-seat auditorium at Sight & Sound Entertainment Center in Lancaster County, PA, where she played a variety of roles in many productions. In Noah, she was an understudy/swing for three leading female roles while additionally playing many supporting roles throughout a 14-16 show weekly run. Her hobbies include almost all sports, dancing, baton and fire twirling, horseback and motorcycle riding. Pamela Reneé thanks her family, support group of friends, and most importantly…God. Her favorite quotes are “Let’s look at one another” and “Love one another.”

David Lipkin (Professor Willard, Dead Man #1) is making his stage debut in Our Town and he now wonders why he has waited so long to experience the joys of acting. It is through the encouragement of Linda, his beautiful wife of 33 years, and the skills and demand for excellence of director Allen Crossett that he is able to perform for you this evening. This play is near and dear to David as he spent many years living, fishing, and hunting in the Monadnock region of New Hampshire, an area brought to life by Mr. Wilder in Our Town. In light of the tragic events that have recently rocked our nation and affected so many, it is David’s deepest wish that our audiences take away from each performance a keen desire to begin experiencing life to the fullest. Peace and God’s blessing to all.

Bob Sutton (Editor Webb) is making his local theatrical debut in the Players’ production of Our Town after a long absence from the footlights. Previously, in a memorable 1960 performance, he originated the role of A Page in “Old King Cole & His Merry Old Court,” a commencement pageant presented by Mrs. Howard H. Davis’ Kingsland (GA) Kindergarten. Stricken mute at the appearance of an actual audience on the day of the event, he vowed never to mount a stage again and instead has worked atop soapboxes, tree stumps and speaker’s rostrums during a political and sales career that spans two decades. A reluctant software marketeer and retired ocean racer with numerous inshore and offshore victories to his credit, in his spare moments Bob enjoys the quiet contemplation of splitting firewood, tying dry flies, and procrastinating at writing. Founder of a locally-popular Burns Night celebration and gentlemen’s invitational whisky-and-poetry supper now in its seventh year, Bob aspires someday to flood the Roxiticus Valley below Route 24 and develop a destination trout fishery and sailing school. Meanwhile, he and his wife and best friend Ginger are raising three little ball players in a local town not unlike Grover’s Corners. “A very ordinary town if you ask me.” Aya.

James Doherty (Man in the Auditorium, Baseball Player #2, Dead Man #2) has been involved in the performing arts for four years on a professional level. He would like to thank all those who inspired him, and most especially God.

Miriam Johnson (Artistic Lady, Choir) was the star of Auntie’s Money presented by the Far Hills Elementary School. More recently, she appeared with the Footlight Guild of Peapack in a production of White Sheep of the Family.

Pat Richards (Woman in the Audience, Choir)

T.R. Kimpland Jr. (Simon Stimson) is from Long Valley and is in the process of working on his goals and dreams in the entertainment world, from TV commercials to feature films. T.R. gives special thanks to his family and friends for their encouragement to be able to perform upon this stage. It truly is a “Wonderful Life.” God bless everyone in the cast. He dedicates his performance to 9-11-01.

Linda Jean Lipkin (Producer, Dead Woman #1) has been involved in acting, singing, dancing and costuming in a variety of community theater events both here and in New Hampshire over the years. As a member of the Amherst Community Players, she was involved in Paint Your Wagon, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, The Importance of Being Earnest, and Plaza Suite. Most recently, Linda appeared in the Trilogy production of Servant of Two Masters. She has also sung with the Soughegan Valley Chorus of Amherst, NH, and is a member of the Peapack Reformed Church choir. Linda’s greatest enjoyment was realized through her years of performing with the Amherst Follies, a cabaret theater dance troupe that performed at numerous events throughout New Hampshire.

Sheila Lund-Pearson (Mrs. Soames) is a self-employed software training and support consultant, residing in Peapack with her husband Ken (alias Constable Bill Warren) and two children, Blake and Ashley. In her early youth, she starred in the title role of Mary Poppins, shone as the Guardian Angel in Johnny Appleseed, and has a vague recollection of sparkling in the role of Agnes, a U.S.O. entertainer, in a local production of M.A.S.H. Sheila would like to thank her daughter, Ashley, for her support, understanding, and encouragement.

Elaine Helbig (Dead Woman #2, Choir) portrayed Emily in Our Town at the Park Street Church, Worcester, MA, in 1953. For the West Valley Light Opera Association of Saratoga, CA, in 1970 she appeared as one of the townspeople in The Student Prince. Other credits include performing in The Mikado, playing the female lead in Don’t Darken My Door, and receiving awards for her performance in Paul Gallico’s The Snow Goose, all at Southwest Harbor, and in the Miss Mount Desert Island Contest in Bar Harbor, Maine.

Vin Girardy (Joe Stoddard) serves as Mayor of the Borough of Peapack and Gladstone. Upon his retirement from IBM, he promised himself that he would do five things that he never had time for while working and raising a family. Acting is the fourth of the promises kept, and this is his first exposure to theater. Vin lives with his wife Estelle on Tiger Hill in Gladstone where they raised two sons.

Drew Thomson (Sam Craig) is a lifelong resident of Peapack-Gladstone and a lifetime member of Peapack Reformed Church. For Trilogy Repertory, he has portrayed Dupont-Dufort Sr. in Thieves Carnival, Dr. Gall in R.U.R., and an Englishman in A Flea in Her Ear. Two years ago, he helped to produce the Trilogy production of A Servant of Two Masters, performed in Peapack Reformed Church’s Fellowship Hall. Drew was employed by AT&T for over 18 years, taking voluntary retirement in 1998. He now works for Pathfinder Consulting Group of Annandale.

Ken Lund-Pearson (Constable Bill Warren) a resident of Our Town, is making his stage debut in this production.

Mark Bentley (Farmer McCarthy, Choir) has been performing with various barbershop quartets and choruses for almost 40 years. As a part of “Cap’n Billy’s Whiz Bang” quartet, he performed at the opening of the South Street Seaport in New York and sang backup on Leon Redbone’s “Double Time” album. Mark appeared as Vittorio in the Trilogy Repertory production of Servant of Two Masters.

Allen Crossett (Director) helped to create Trilogy Repertory some 20 years ago and is very grateful to Jaye Barre, the current president of Trilogy, for her support in helping to create the New Peapack Players. Among Allen’s favorite projects were the Trilogy productions of Vanities, Servant of Two Masters, Don’t Dress for Dinner, The Crucible, and his own Winter Nights. His reviews of professional theater in New Jersey appear regularly in the newspapers of the Recorder Publishing Company.

Henry Repp (Music Director/Organist) is the organist/choir director at Peapack Reformed Church. He studied with Robert McDonald at Riverside Church, New York, and the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark. He accompanied Messiah performances for many years with the Dover Area Oratorio Choir. He has also been accompanist for the Sussex County Oratorio Society, the Livingston festival Choir Concerts, and the Livingston Broadway Show Tunes Revue. In addition, he has performed in numerous concerts, including St. Thomas Church in New York and the Cathedral of the sacred Heart in Newark.

Judy Books (Choir) recently switched from a career in publishing-related work to a position as a naturalist at the Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center in Chatham. She has performed in productions of Peter Pan, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Godspell. Judy enjoys bicycling, bird watching and hiking with her dog “Ginger” and is delighted to have the chance to sing in Our Town, directed by her former English and Journalism teacher.

Stuart Conway (Choir) is returning to the stage for the first time since the fourth grade. Stu has been a member of the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church choir since 1988. He and his wife have recently completed a three-year sail around the world aboard their boat Stampede.

Nancy Culton (Choir)

Linden DeBie (Choir) is a native of Long Beach, California, and took his PhD at McGill University in Montreal. He is pastor of Peapack Reformed Church.

Mary DeBie (Choir) was born in Birmingham, England, and is employed as a case manager for a large law firm in Newark. She teaches Sunday School at Peapack Reformed Church and enjoys singing in a choir whenever she can.

Kathleen Doherty (Choir) is making her stage debut singing alto with the New Peapack Players. She has been singing sacred music in church since she was in grade school. She thanks her sons and husband for their endless support.

Anne Hampson (Choir) is pleased to join the cast of Our Town. Stage credits include the national and international tours of Ken Hill’s Phantom of the Opera and numerous Gilbert & Sullivan productions. CD credits include performing with the Fugs in the rock opera Star Peace.

Christina Lanzetti (Choir), a Junior at Bernards High School, studies acting and singing in NYC. She is appearing now in Cinderella at Pax Amicus in Budd Lake. She sang our national anthem before 6000 people at East Bay Raceway, Tampa, FL in November 2000.

Lucy Lanzetti (Choir) is a mother of four and is a Spanish teacher at Everett Academy in Peapack. Her last stage appearance was a solo performance in a Middle School Talent Show in Cliffside Park, NJ.

Barbara McElroy (Choir) is a fifth grade language arts teacher at Hardyston Twp. School where she has taught for 32 years. She studied voice with Mildred Ellor May and has sung with the Masterwork Chorus as well as the Sussex County Oratorio Society.

Jodi San Giovanni (Soprano Soloist) sings each Sunday at Peapack Reformed Church. A graduate of the University of Florida, she is now employed as a teacher of vocal music at Alpine School in Sparta, NJ. She is co-founder and director of the 130-member Alpine Players Musical Theater Group.

John Charles Smith (Choir) enjoyed his first appearance in an acting role singing “O Holy Night” right here in this same church some fifty years ago, more or less, when in the sixth grade of the Peapack-Gladstone School. After recovering from that experience, John went on to sing with “Cayuga’s Waters,” a 12-voice ensemble at Cornell University, and now sings with the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church choir.