Performances are at The First
Presbyterian Church (500 Hughes
Street) in Cape May from September 17 through October 12. New
Jersey Stage spoke with Artistic
Director, Gayle Stahlhuth, about
the play which she describes as a
crime drama as relevant today as
it was when written 100 years ago,
filled with mystery, romance, humor, and unforgettable characters.
“Within the Law” was a highly
successful play on Broadway
over a hundred years ago, but
rarely done today. What attracted East Lynne Theater Company
to the play? Looking at today’s
television shows and films, it’s
apparent that criminals and lawyers are popular subjects, so in
2011, I began looking into early
American plays involving such
characters. One name that came
up early in the Internet search was
playwright Bayard Veiller. Online,
I easily ordered copies of his plays
“The Trial of Mary Dugan” and
“The Thirteenth Chair,” but “Within the Law” was not so simple.
The book version was available
through Project Gutenberg. Many
plays first opened on Broadway,
and then were adapted into novels in the early 1900s.
My next go-to source [for a copy
Award-winning professional ensemble theatre,
close to home and close to the heart
Mainstage Productions · Improv Comedy
Cabaret · New Play Readings
Educational Programs · Senior Outreach
The Oakes Center 120 Morris Avenue Summit, NJ
908-514-9654 www.DreamcatcherRep.org
New Jersey Stage
September 2014
pg 94