This was an interesting choice of a play to for the cast to perform at the 2004 fest. It was done
not only because Art Wallace was one of the original DS writers, but also due to the fact that he later used this basic
plot in one of DS's most well remembered storylines -- that of the return of Jason McGuire. (Please note that the
following will be a bit sketchy and I apologize in advance if I make any mistakes on character names, but I can't find my
program book at the moment to double check these things.)
As the story opens we meet Carolyn (Marie Wallace), the reclusive matriarch of the large house on the
hill in Collinsville, Maine. She has a teenage daughter, Elizabeth (Kathryn Leigh Scott), whose boyfriend (played by
David Selby) is very reminiscent of young Joe Haskell.
Into this setting comes Jason McGuire an old "friend" of Carolyn's returned from the sea after many years.
Jason was played with great relish by John Karlen, with an accent which was obviously a tip of the hat to his friend the late
Dennis Patrick.
From there the plot pretty much follows the story we know with the addition of a few new characters: Lara
Parker played the mother of a girl who is taking piano lessons from Elizabeth, and Denise Nickerson played the little girl.
Jamison Selby played two roles: a seafaring friend of Jason's and that of the Sheriff later on.
It was clear the cast was having a good time with this play. They all threw themselves into it and
their roles. Virtually all were using "character voices" different from the ones we are used to for their other DS characters.
John Karlen's was obvious, but KLS and DS also did voices which made them sound like the teenagers they were playing.
All in all this play was very enjoyable, and I am sorry that I havent heard of any plans to release it via CD like Return
to Collinwood was.
You may find photos taken during the performance of this play at: