CRUISE | WOLDIN

The Bound Brook Chronicle, February 1, 1962, p. 1 Bound Brook, Somerset County, New Jersey

Neither Rain, Nor Sleet, Nor Crutches Stays This Lady from Acting's Clutches

By JEAN CAMPBELL

BOUND BROOK - At an age when most women are content to entertain their grandchildren, Mrs. Samuel Woldin is entertaining audiences at McCarter Theater.

Neither rain, nor sleet, nor gloom of night, nor broken foot has stayed this charming thespian from nightly rehearsals of "Dark of the Moon" at Princeton. Her major role in this production at the Foothills Playhouse this summer attracted the attention of Brooks Jones, directing the McCarter Group. He called Mrs. Woldin for an audition and she was awarded the part of Mrs. Summey.

Saturday, Mrs. Woldin somehow managed to break her foot. Jones, director, was consulted and felt that Mrs. Summey was too major a role and Mrs. Woldin too skilled a player to permit a less experienced person to step in. So with a wave of the crutches Mrs. Woldin will move across the footlights tomorrow and Saturday nights.

"Dark of the Moon," a drama of witchcraft in the Smokey mountains, draws its cast from Equity players and the best from the local community groups.

Mary Woldin is well known to audiences in this area. Her acting in Woman's Club production has brought applause and honors. Twice she has won the coveted best actress award in competition with talent from Fifth District Federation of Women's Clubs.

She has been associated with Foothills Playhouse for over five years. She had a major role in "Time of the Cuckoo" and, of course, "Dark of the Moon." Her insight into a character and her keen grasp of theatrics guarantees success to any venture she undertakes.

This summer was her first experience before Killeg lights and movie cameras. A casting call went out for people to take part in a scene of "The Miracle Worker" with Anne Brancroft and Patty Duke. Mrs. Woldin duly answered the call to camera and spent several exciting days in Peapack-Gladstone with the Hollywood troupe. She modestly points out that "if you blink your eyes at the wrong time, you'll miss me." But she thoroughly enjoyed the experience and the "types" she encountered.

Mary Woldin is also an active substitute teacher in the area. She claims that charming an adult audience is far easier than charming a room full of wiggly children but we've heard no complaints.

Mrs. Woldin has just added another accomplishment to her long list of talents. Each Monday she takes easel and oils for a painting lesson under the tutelage of Mrs. William Ozzard. It wouldn't surprise us to see a one-woman show at Foothills before much longer.

Mrs. Woldin lives with her husband, Samuel, at 6 West Union avenue. Mr. Woldin is his wife's severest critic and staunchest ally in each of her endeavors.

Oh yes, there are also three fine grandsons which she does entertain when she is "at liberty."

SMILE, MARY - In this costume she wore before the cameras in "The Miracle Worker" is Mrs. Samuel Woldin, Bound Brooks' gift to stage and screen. (Photo by Harvey Patterson Jr.)

'Dark of the Moon' At McCarter Soon PRINCETON - "Dark of the Moon," the Richardson-Burney drama of witchcraft in the Smokey Mountains, will be produced by the McCarter Guild at Princeton's 1000-seat McCarter Theatre on February 2 and 3. The play, rarely revived in professional theatres because of the large cast and elaborate use of music and dance, will use a company of over thirty actors, dancers, and folk musicians. The director for the production is Brooks Jones, producer at McCarter. He will cast the play from the various community theatre groups in the area, as well as with New York talent. Jones describes the venture as "a community project, professionally driven." In the lead role of the Witch Bay, John, the noted young New York dancer and actor Norman Walker will be the central figure of the story, dance the play's musical interludes, and choreograph the production. Walker's appearance at McCarter will follow his featured concert at Hunter College Playhouse in New York, and a guest appearance with Pearl Lang in New York. The 24-year-old Walker first gained notice with his performance and choreography at Jacob's Pillow last year, followed by the formation of the Norman Walker Dance Company this past fall. Playing opposite Walker will be Suzanne Harvey, as Barbara Allen. Miss Harvey is an off-Broadway actress and dancer, who attracted much attention with her performance in summer stock of the title role in "The Diary of Anne Frank." She has also appeared in the Kazan film, "Splendor in the Cross." Priority seating for the Charter Guild production "Dark of the Moon" may be obtained by writing Box 562, Princeton. The Bound Brook Chronicle, January 11, 1962, p. 21.