Bluefish Cove Opens at CAMP Rehoboth Community Center
Last Summer at Bluefish Cove is important in theater history as the first mainstream, high quality script featuring well-crafted gay characters in a compelling love story revealing universal truths within the lesbian experience.
The central character is a vibrant, self-confident woman named Lil Zalinski, who is spending the summer alone at a beach cottage in a small enclave that has been a lesbian haven for 30 years. Also at the Cove are her dearest friends, three couples—including a couple of former lovers. There’s Earth Mother Rae and her partner Annie, an acclaimed sculptor who is Lil’s best friend; Kitty Cochrane, a doctor turned best-selling author of feminist books, and her partner-secretary, Rita; and rich dowager Sue with her girl-toy, Donna.
Into their company arrives Eva Margolis, a straight woman who mistakenly rents a cottage in their community.
The cast includes veteran local actors and some new faces:
Stephanie Harmelin (Lil Zalinski ) was last seen in the production of Stop Kiss at CAMP Rehoboth. Ms Harmelin is a Philadelphia native who moved to the beach in the fall of 2016. When not performing or walking her dog, Boone, Steph serves as the Camp Director at the Children’s Beach House in Lewes.
Ashlie Workman (Eve Margolis) recently appeared as Mrs. Potts in Possum Point’s production of Beauty and the Beast. She works with students on the Autism spectrum at the Sussex Consortium in Lewes. Ashlie also has a passion for theater and can be found doing shows around Sussex County.
Kay Cummings (Kitty Cochrane) has played leading roles off-Broadway, in national tours, stock, repertory theater, television soaps, series, and commercials and has appeared in major motion pictures. She has created and directed works performed at The Joseph Papp Public Theater, P.S. 122, Lincoln Center’s Serious Fun, LaMaMa, E.T.C., Jacob’s Pillow, The Joyce Theatre, Dance Theatre Workshop, Minneapolis’ Southern Theatre and LA’s Cast Theater. Her work has been featured on Alive From Off Center on PBS. Miss Cummings is the recipient of grants from the NEA Interarts Program, NYSCA, and the Mid-Atlantic Arts Consortium. She was the Chair of the Department of Dance at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts from 1992 through June, 2002 and continues to teach choreography and acting there.
Kelly Sheridan (Rae) a longtime fundraiser, last acted in 2014 in The Kathy & Mo Show in Baltimore. Previous to that, she directed high school theatre from 1991-1995 in Towson, MD. She considers this her first real acting part.
Lauren Leone Baker (Donna), a Sussex County native, who is thrilled to be back on stage for the first time since moving back two years ago. A Towson theatre grad, she’s followed the dream all the way to Los Angeles, Rochester, and beyond, but home beckoned. If she can’t be found working in Rehoboth, then hopefully she’s exploring some continent or another.
Dani V. Sawchuk (Rita) is most at home on stage or behind the curtains. Prior appearances include but are not limited to: The Emperor’s New Clothes; (Whore Weaver) Cortland, NY, The Odd Couple; (Murray the Cop) Elmhurst, NY, Guys and Dolls; (SD) Bronx, NY. Dani studied Theatre at HB Studios, SUNY Cortland and alongside the great Agnes Garrett (Playwright), Rosemary DeAngelis (Actress), Howard Lindt (Master Craftsman/Puppeteer), Ann Margaret, and the late William Hickey.
Gail Gormley. (Sue) is returning to the stage after a 28 year hiatus. At Baltimore’s 31st St Women’s Bookstore, her bawdy performance of Millions of Cats flaunted the feminist mores of the day. Her Rehoboth summering career began in the age of The Renegade and disco. Now a year-rounder, she’s a volunteer English language teacher and helps to keep things in order at the Lewes Library.
Gwen Osborn. (Anne) is originally from Maryland, and she moved to Delaware over 12 years ago with her partner of 24 years, Katie Handy, to open Signarama. Very active in the community and Epworth United Methodist church in Rehoboth, she also enjoys singing with the CAMP Chorus.
Last Summer at Bluefish Cove is directed by Russell Stiles. Mr. Stiles last directed Stop Kiss at CAMP Rehoboth and will be directing Our Town at Possum Point Players next fall.
This play is not so much about women in love as it is about love and friendship itself, and the many varieties that exist. The friendships, the laughter, the love, the fears of being outed, the difficulties of being gay and how it affects relationships with family, children, parents and careers, the demonstrations of what the painful price could be for a gay life 30 years ago in everyday America, which had never before been told with such respect. Jane Chambers’ comedic dialogue, sensitivity to human nature and tender treatment of her characters help the play transcend preconceptions and show the universality of these women’s journeys, whether straight or gay.
February 23, 24, 25, 7:30 pm., at the CAMP Rehoboth Community Centre, 37 Baltimore Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971; 302-227-5620; tickets: $25 available on the CAMP Rehoboth website.