“If I can but reach that bridge,” thought Ichabod, “I am safe.” Even now, I am reliving that adrenaline packed chase from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow just like I did when I was in seventh grade. The Headless Horseman is perched ominously on his black steed pursuing Ichabod Crane who is desperately holding on to Gunpowder’s saddle trying to outpace the Hessian specter. And even though I love the spooky, creepy elements of the tale, it’s what happens after that always left me wondering, “what really happened?” Did Ichabod Crane lose his life to the Hessian? Did he escape somehow? Those who’ve read this short story are already familiar with this open ending that leaves so much to the imagination. I believe that is one reason Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is still considered one of the greatest pieces of literature even 200 years after it was written. It’s also one of the factors that led the Far Off Broadway Players to produce the story for the Plaza Theatre stage on October 25, 26, and 27.
When deciding what plays to produce in the fall, we at the Far Off Broadway Players always look for something that fits into the Halloween spirit. This year is no different. However, when we decided to produce a play based on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving, we hit a few brick walls. It’s a challenge sometimes to find shows that are true to the source material. Playwrights and screenwriters often play with story lines and characters, which can sometimes make what we are viewing unrecognizable. The 1999 film version of Sleepy Hollow starring Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci changed the character of Ichabod Crane from a schoolmaster to a detective sent to Sleepy Hollow to investigate a series of murders by the Headless Horseman. Stage versions of the story are often light-hearted, musical and short plays for children. We were searching for an adaptation that we felt best captured the classic ghost story by Washington Irving. I’m happy to report we found the perfect version for our audiences here in south central Kentucky.
In 2010, playwright John Heimbuch and director Jon Ferguson introduced audiences to a new adaptation of Irving’s classic tale that met with rave reviews. The Star Tribune review stated that Heimbuch and Ferguson “infuse this work with a lively blend of gothic terror and tongue-in-cheek humor that ably captures Irving’s story and demonstrates why it remains so compelling.” Citypages.com said, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is one of the most absorbing, entertaining shows you’re likely to see on stage this season.” And the Twin Cities Daily Planet noted, “It’s the details that make any story convincing, and this marvelous rendition of the Great American Halloween Story sure convinced me. Don’t miss it.”
Irving is considered by many to be the first great American writer, and his tales the first great works inspired by uniquely American folklore. His short story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow was published first in a collection of stories titled The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, released in seven separate installments from June of 1819 through September of 1820. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle, which were also in the collection, helped propel Irving to fame. John Heimbuch and Jon Ferguson did their best to truly capture on stage what the author penned 200 years ago in 1819.
If the names Ichabod Crane, Katrina Van Tassel, Brom Bones and the Headless Horseman ring a bell, then come see them on stage October 25, 26, and 27 at the Historic Plaza Theatre, 115 East Main Street, Glasgow, Ky. Even Geoffrey Crayon, Irving’s pen name for his short story collection, will make an appearance.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is presented by The Far Off Broadway Players and sponsored by TJ Samson Community Hospital. For tickets, call the Plaza Theatre box office at 270-361-2101 or visit www.historicplaza.com.
