East Lynne Theater Company Presents POE And DR. CALIGARI In Time For Halloween

The award-winning Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company presents two events in time for Halloween: "Poe by Candlelight" on Saturday, October 21 at 8:00p.m. and the classic silent thriller, "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari," accompanied by Wayne Zimmerman on the organ, on Sunday, October 29 at 7:30p.m., both at The First Presbyterian Church, 500 Hughes Street in Cape May, where the theater is in residence.

"Poe by Candlelight" is the final "Tales of the Victorians" performance for 2017. Like other "Tales" that take place at different venues throughout the summer, this will feature light refreshments and stories read by ELTC actors. Refreshments will be served in the hospitality room before the hour-long performance, and the actors are Lee O'Connor and Gayle Stahlhuth.

O'Connor, also ELTC's technical director, is a favorite reader for "Tales," and has portrayed Sherlock Holmes since ELTC began producing radio-style Holmes' adventures in 2002. Stahlhuth directed and helped to develop the current production of "A Year in the Trenches," commissioned by The New Jersey Historical Commission. "Trenches" marks Stahlhuth's 100th production for ELTC since she became the company's artistic director in 1999. She's also performing in "Louisa May Alcott's Christmas" for the holidays.

Created in 1920, "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" is considered the first horror film. It begins at a carnival where a sideshow operator, Dr. Caligari, played by Werner Krauss, exhibits Cesare, a Somnambulist, played by Conrad Veidt. Caligari claims that Cesare has been sleeping since birth, and keeps him in a coffin. Caligari also claims that he can answer any question, including when someone will die.

Directed by Robert Weine, this film is believed to be the first example in cinema of German Expressionism, a visual style in which both characters and the world itself are out of joint. The set is comprised of jagged landscapes, tilted walls, and staircases going in odd directions. Its camera angles and lighting can be seen in such later "film noirs" like "The Third Man" (1949).

Robert Wiene (1873-1938) began his career in 1913 and directed 47 films, including "The Hands of Orlac" (1924). He fled to the United States during Hitler's rise, and at the time of his death was working on "Ultimatum" (1938), with another refugee, Erich von Stroheim. Conrad Veidt (1893-1943), another refugee, made 119 films including "Casablanca" (1942), in which he played Major Strasser.

Silent films were always accompanied by an organ, piano, and sometimes a full orchestra: the beginnings of film scoring as we know it. From Charlie Chaplin, who scored his own films, to John Williams and Thomas Newman of today, the power of music accompanying a silent or a talking film cannot be undervalued. Experienced composers know that music enhances the action and emotion, but never overshadows it.

Wayne Zimmerman has played in a variety of venues from coast-to-coast and in Hawaii, regaling audiences with his silent-film accompaniment and concerts. He has accompanied films presented by ELTC since 2011, and his popularity is ever increasing, with patrons driving in from Philadelphia, Princeton, and the New York City area just to hear him.

Reservations are strongly recommended for both shows, and may be purchased through ELTC's website, eastlynnetheater.org, by calling 609-884-5898., or e-mailing eastlynneco@aol.com. Tickets for "Poe by Candlelight" are $12, and for "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari," $15. Ages 12 and under are free for both.

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