Langhorne Players Does a Bit of ‘Showin’ Off’

Some folks will not back away from a challenge. Langhorne Players surely belongs in this category. The theater company is going ahead with its planned benefit despite recent flood damage, although the event has been scaled back from two evenings to one.

"Showin’ Off – A Benefit for Langhorne Players" will take place 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, at Spring Garden Mill.

Founded in 1947, Langhorne Players has long been committed to quality theater. Their motto is: “Plays worth talking about.” Although the grammar is questionable, the productions never are. The choice of works, casting, directing, stage design, lighting, sound, acting, wardrobe and props are all intentional and superb.

“Unpaid professional theater” is the term Elliot Simmons prefers to “community theater.” Simmons and his wife, Eileen, have been with the company for 22 years and are returning for the benefit.

Certainly the volunteer-yet-exceptional company must have known it was taking on a challenge when it settled into Spring Garden Mill in Tyler State Park in 1976.

Eileen Simmons said the mill was nothing but cement walls when the troupe took up residence. They had to install plumbing, the stage, lighting and lighting booth, dressing room, scenic shop, ticket and refreshment booth, and more.

“A lot of money has been sunk in this place,” Elliot Simmons said.

Although hurricanes Floyd and Irene have made things difficult, the company has flood insurance and will stay.

“We love that building. It’s our home,” said Charles Gorman, president of Langhorne Players. “The thought of moving out of Spring Garden Mill is not something we want to consider.”

Yet the 200-year-old building sits in a valley right next to a creek. “When [Neshaminy Creek] is behaving itself, it’s ambience,” said Gorman. “When it’s not, you want to cry. It’s heartbreaking.”

Why such an attachment to an old building?

“The intimacy is the sweetest thing of all,” Eileen Simmons said, and intimacy requires authenticity. When dressing sets at the mill, “everything has to be real because you’re right there."

“You don’t need mountains of cash to make a production better,” she added. “Because it’s such a small theater, the amount of revenue that comes in is used wisely.”

Gorman explained that ticket sales cover production costs, but there is a need to generate revenue for maintenance and improvements inherent with an historic building.

About the mill, Gorman added, “If we weren’t there, would the Commonwealth maintain it? I can’t answer that.”

"Showin’ Off" is in response to that unanswerable question. Funds raised will help save the historic mill building and the theater company that thrives within it.

Fifteen acts will be performed by alumni, including Abby Alexander of Jenkintown; Matt Bookler and Shelli Pentimall Bookler of North Wales; Bob Clothier of Richboro; Susan Fowler of Newtown; Ken Marblestone of Langhorne; Joe Mattern of Bensalem; Leslie Jacobsen of Freehold, N.J.; Jen Newby of Warminster; Robert A. Norman of New Hope; Hans Peters of Southampton; John Pinto of Yardley; Elliot and Eileen Simmons of Philadelphia; Joe Szumlia of Langhorne; and Emily West of North Wales. David Rubinsohn of Newtown, former on-air WHYY fundraising personality, is emcee.

"Showin’ Off" is directed by sisters Heather MacHenry of Levittown and Jessie Schol of Philadelphia, produced by Carole Mancini of Forest Grove, and written by John Weber of Fairless Hills and Elliot Simmons of Philadelphia. Intermission reception is chaired by Kathy Junkins of Yardley and the mill art show is chaired by Ken Junkins of Yardley, with mill décor by Jo Anne Pinto of Yardley.

"Showin’ Off – A Benefit for Langhorne Players" will take place 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23 at Spring Garden Mill. Tickets are $40 and include a special intermission reception. For additional information, visit www.langhorneplayers.org or call (215) 860-0818.