East Lynne Theater Company and Mid-Atlantic Center's Ghosts Return for the Holidays

"In two days it will be Christmas!" said Old Applejoy to himself. "Can it be that my close-fisted grandson does not intend to celebrate Christmas! I've seen no preparations, heard nothing, smelt nothing. I will go this moment and investigate."

And Old Applejoy, a ghost living in the attic of the old mansion, descended to the lower part of the house in Frank R. Stockton's delightfully spirited Christmas tale, "Old Applejoy's Ghost."

This story and Mary Wilkins Freeman's "The Christmas Masquerade" are the stories being told, fully memorized, on the "Ghosts of Christmas Past Trolley Rides," co-sponsored by The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts and Humanities (MAC) and the award-winning Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company. "The Christmas Masquerade" is about a magical and mischievous costumer who, when people don his creations, behave like the outfit, i.e., paupers dressed as princes behave like royalty, and banker's daughters behave like shepherdesses. These were adapted for storytelling by ELTC's artistic director, Gayle Stahlhuth.

Listen to these classic American ghostly tales, told in a dark trolley, while the twinkling lights of the beautifully decorated homes and streets are seen through the windows of the heated vehicle. This marks the tenth year of this popular event.

The "ghostly" thirty-minute rides begin and end at the Washington Street Mall Information Booth. Tickets are only $12 for adults and $8 for children, ages 3-12, and run several nights a week through December 31.

Once again, the main costumed storyteller is Frank Smith, who was the first person to portray Dr. Physick for MAC's tour of the Physick Estate, and has performed for ELTC in William Gillette's "Sherlock Holmes" and for "Tales of the Victorians," ELTC's popular storytelling event at various venues during the summer and fall.

Reservations are strongly suggested and can be made by calling MAC at 884-5404. If tickets are available the day of the tour, they will be sold at the Washington Street Mall Information Booth.

Meanwhile, on the mainstage of ELTC is "Yuletide Tales" based on stories by Edward Everett Hale, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Mark Twain, and O. Henry, adapted and performed by Gayle Stahlhuth on November 25, 26, December 4, 8, 9, and 10 at 8:00p.m., with a 2:00p.m. matinee on Saturday, December 10. The location is The First Presbyterian Church, 500 Hughes St., Cape May. Tickets are $27 for general admission; $17 for students and military; and ages 12 and under are always free. For information or reservations: 884-5898 or on the web at www.eastlynnetheater.org. Season tickets for 2017 are available and make an excellent Christmas present: 4 shows for only $88 and tickets may be used in a variety of ways.