Local History Came Alive in “The Letters: Voices from the Great War”

We hope you didn’t miss one of the four performances of The Letters: Voices from the Great War, an original play by J.M. Cassidy and Co-Created by Andrea Perdicho performed at the Brewster Performing Arts Center (PAC). The cast of about forty-five and crew of about thirty have been rehearsing and preparing since late September and their dedication and hard work certainly paid off in this powerful production.

From the moment you walked in the PAC you were transported by posters and memorabilia to a WWI era. Student and adult-researched panels on Putnam County specific characters were on display demonstrating a commitment to getting the stories as accurate as possible. All shows offered complimentary tickets to veterans and it is estimated about thirty attended per show. They were honored and asked to stand after a brief intermission. The 2 pm show was a sold-out, full house with dignitaries, local politicians and even historians from the NY museum noted in attendance. In addition, descendants of the depicted characters attended the production such as the Brandon and Phyfe families.

The play opens to the backdrop of the steps of the Putnam County Courthouse as characters file out as wartime nurses, soldiers, families, a reporter and even an antiwar protester/Plea of Protest character all dressed smartly in rented early 1900’s attire. Although a little tough to hear some of the monologues at times (not all had microphones) the actors had memorized a vast amount of lines and clearly had immersed themselves in learning a dialect and formal language of the times.

The show was transfixing with the transition music, changes of sceneries and lighting, and the use of old film footage in black and white to newer vivid views in color such as red poppies. By no means did the play romanticize war but as stated in the director, Dr. Alex Siriani’s, note, “we are witness to the great duality of war – its heinous brutality and noble struggle.” As the audience rises to the Star Spangled Banner and the American flag fills the screen it is a sobering and moving experience to remember the sacrifices of those who travelled blindly to foreign lands to defend democracy.

Kudos to the writers, J.M. Cassidy, a local historian, playwright and trustee of the Southeast Museum, and Andrea Perdicho, co-creator, producer and theater director, as well as the director, Alex Siriani and the many talented and dedicated cast and crew who truly brought history to life in the production of "The Letters: Voices from the Great War". May we all be reminded this Veterans Day of our community’s role in history and the sacrifices of individuals for a common purpose, democracy.

- Lisa DiFabbio, Robin Greene and Charlotte Greene

Photo Credit:Andrea Perdicho