Peapack-Gladstone — Over four nights in October, Somerset Hills theater-goers will be treated to Thornton Wilder’s classic American drama Our Town, staged by the New Peapack Players in the sanctuary at Peapack Reformed Church in Gladstone. First presented at Princeton’s McCarter Theatre in 1938, the play was later awarded a Pulitzer Prize.

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.

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