Pat Dwyer in "Thurber: Not Unmeaningless". Photo by Stephen Mosher
(CAPE MAY, NJ) -- Classic American Tales (CAT) at the historic Dormer House B&B in Cape May, NJ presents humorous stories on the next two Thursdays.
On September 4, Eileen Kirk and Gayle Stahlhuth present Stephen Leacock's "Are the Rich Happy," "The Anecdotes of Dr. So and So," "My Financial Career," and "Father Knickerbocker" and Robert Benchley's "The Power of the Press" and "Take Along a Book." Leacock (1869-1944) was an internationally popular Canadian humorist, educator, lecturer, and author.
While Leacock was the head of the department of economics and political science at McGill University in Montreal, writing works on history and economy, his wider audience appreciated his humor as a lecturer and author. Robert Benchley and Groucho Marx were just two of his many fans. Robert Benchley (1889-1945) was a famous writer, performer, and radio broadcaster who appeared in 48 short films, including the Oscar-winning How to Sleep (1935.) One of the Algonquin Round Table wits, he developed his famous “Treasurer’s Report” monologue for a stage revue and wrote for "The New Yorker" from 1925-1940.
Thurber: Not Unmeaningless comes to The Dormer House on September 11, part of a new solo play conceived, compiled, and edited by Pat Dwyer and Sybille Bruun with assistance by Stephen Mosher, and performed by Pat Dwyer, based on the works of James Thurber, performed by arrangement with Rosemary A. Thurber and The Barbara Hogenson Agency, Inc. James Thurber (1894-1961) joined “The New Yorker” in 1927 as an editor and writer; his cartoons began to appear there later. He co-wrote a successful Broadway play, The Male Animal and appeared on Broadway in A Thurber Carnival, a compilation of his humorous works that was adapted for the stage. In 1947 his story “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” was made into a film starring Danny Kaye.
Eileen Kirk is an historical interpreter/tour guide employed by Cape May MAC, who has been there for over 25 years. During the winter, she lives in Sarasota, FL, where several of the plays she’s performed include The Diary of Anne Frank, Our Town, Inherit the Wind, and Charlie's Aunt. In Philadelphia and Los Angeles, she was a film/video producer of commercials, corporate films and half hour TV specials and was a part-time news announcer for KPFK radio in Los Angeles.
Gayle Stahlhuth is an actor, director, playwright, producer, storyteller, and teacher, working out of Manhattan and Cape May. From 1999 through 2022 she was the producing artistic director of East Lynne Theater Company and currently is the founding artistic director of Classic American Tales. She is a member of The Dramatists Guild, SAG-AFTRA, and AEA. The National League of Professional Women honored her in 2016 for her work as a theater professional and she is listed in the newest edition of The Cambridge Guide to American Theatre (2008).
Pat Dwyer was last in Cape May in Silent Sky, directed by Tom Byrn and produced by Gayle Stahlhuth. Most recently, he performed Thurber: Not Unmeaningless for the Shakespeare Forum’s Harlem Summer Festival. Numerous regional credits include The Mousetrap at Casa Manana, Eastern Standard for Theatre 3, and Twelfth Night for Stage West. His film work includes the award-winning horror comedy, eVil Sublet, available on Amazon and Fandango. He’s a member of SAG-AFTRA and AEA.
“Tales at The Dormer House” continue through October 16 every Thursday at 4:00pm, where guests are treated to lemonade and tasty treats while listening to stories. This B&B is located at 800 Columbia Avenue in Cape May, and performances are on the porch, weather permitting. Otherwise, they will be inside. Cost is only $12.00, cash at the door, and guests at The Dormer House and children ages 12 and under are free. Coming up later are works by H. L. Menken, Zona Gale, Zora Neale Hurston, and Louisa May Alcott. Reservations are made through CAT by calling 609-884-5898 or emailing [email protected].
Classic American Tales is a nonprofit theater with the mission to “Tell America’s stories one tale at a time.” To learn more, visit https://www.ClassicAmericanTales.org.
Funding for CAT is possible in part by the NJ State Council on the Arts/Department of State, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Cape May County Board of County Commissioners through the Cape May County Division of Culture & Heritage, Season Corporate Sponsor OceanFirst Bank, and the generosity of many patrons.
