‘Helpful Hints’ Plays at Red Hat Convention

CAPE MAY — “What was good for the baby forty years ago is not good for the baby of today. Today, it is widely recognized that if the baby wants to cry, let it do so. The best therapy for the baby is to leave it alone, to put it outdoors, and to seemingly forget all about it,” says Mae Savell Croy, giving a lecture on children and household duties in the stand-up comedy-style production of “Helpful Hints.”
The advice is real, however, taken from “Putnam’s Household Handbook,” written by Mrs. Croy, published in 1916. This witty adaptation, written and performed by Susan Tischler, with Rob LeMaire playing the stage manager, Mr. Wilcox, was so popular during the last two seasons that The Mad Batter asked to have it performed dinner-theater style through Oct. 18, and members of a local Red Hat group asked to have it performed at Cape May’s First Annual Red Hat Convention.
The convention itself lasts three days, and 245 women from ten different states have signed up to attend. “Helpful Hints” will be performing for this group at 9 p.m. at The Grand Hotel on Sat., Oct. 16.
Karen Case Cook, director, has been with Susan every step of the way, helping to reshape the show for different venues, and is once more on hand to help the show go from the intimate space at The Mad Batter, to the large room at The Grand Hotel.
This comedy, along with fourteen other shows, is part of ELTC’s touring roster. Although ELTC’s mainstage season is produced at The First Presbyterian Church, 500 Hughes St., Cape May, where the company’s current production is the time-travel adventure “Berkeley Square,” at least five different touring productions travel to other New Jersey towns and throughout five other states yearly.
So far, In 2010 alone, ELTC’s touring productions have been seen in New York, Illinois, Massachusetts, Kansas, Kentucky – and New Jersey.
Although the Red Hat Convention is a sell-out, patrons can still see “Helpful Hints” for a few more performances at The Mad Batter, 19 Jackson St., Cape May on Sundays and Mondays through October 18. For a sumptuous three-course dinner and a show, with seating at 7 p.m., price is $50 for show only, which starts at 8:30 p.m., ticket price is $20.
For information and reservations for this show, the mainstage “Berkeley Square” production and touring shows, call East Lynne Theater Company at 609-884-5898 or visit www.eastlynnetheater.org . To make credit card reservations directly by phone, call 866-280-9211. Reservations for “Helpful Hints” at The Mad Batter may also be made by calling the restaurant directly at 609-884-5970.