The Eighth Hungarian Tribe, 1984 (11. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1984-04-01 / 4. szám
The New Jersey RM€RICRN-HUNGRRIRN A Special Section for the American-Hungarian Community in New Jersey Couple’s Visit to Transylvania Results In “Draculian” Musical-Comedy Couple’s Visit to Transylvania Results In “Draculian” Musical-Comedy Mrs. Nancy Schmidt, the author of “Hassle at the Castle,” explains how she got the idea for her Transylvanian musical-comedy. WESTFIELD—The poor guy’s income was torpedoed by OPEC. He couldn’t pay his oil bill. In synchronized concert, the local PSE & G and Elizabethtown Gas Company shut off his electricity and gas. To add insult to injury, he was forced to appease his nightly hunger with Campbell’s Tomato Soup when his local “blood bank” ran dry. So, Count Dracula decided to chuck it all and emigrate. Accompanied by his son, Igor, his housekeeper, Hagatha, his fireplace, and a black coffin housing the remains of his father, he boarded “Monster Airlines” and flew off to “Amerika” to find work as a gravedigger. There, he settled down in Westfield, New Jersey, in a 20-room castle on Gallows Hill next to Fairview Cemetery and overlooking Ghost Pond. This, and much more, was the story-thread woven into the Transylvanian musical-comedy called “Hassle at the Castle,” written by Mrs. Nancy Schmidt and recently staged by the April, 1984 Washington School Players under the auspices of the Parent Teachers Association of Washington School in Westfield. The music, songs, dances, and costumes, which delighted the packed house, had a Hungarian flavor, of course. And for good and valid reasons. HOW IT GOT TO BE WRITTEN When Mr. and Mrs. Bela Schmidt of Westfield, both of whom are active members of the American-Hungarian Citizens Club of Rahway (where Nancy happens to be one of its current vicepresidents) visited Transylvania, they also made a trip to the site of “Castle Dracula,” the mountain top hideaway of Vlad Tepes the Impaler, Prince of Transylvania and the model for Bram Stoker’s world famous novel (1897) entitled “Dracula.” When the late Bela Lugosi starred in the film version of this book, his name and that of “Count Dracula” became household words all over the world. After Bela and Nancy Schmidt, who is a teacher in the Westfield public school system and the Assistant Director of the Washington School Players, returned home, they began brainstorming ideas for converting their Transylvanian travel experiences into a script for a musicalcomedy based upon Count Dracula. After months of hard work, Nancy Schmidt blossomed forth as the author of “Hassle at the Castle.” Her two-act opus featured 12 hilarious scenes seasoned with solos (one in Hungarian, too), and such dance ensembles as The Campbell Kids, Transylvanian Trippers, Batmania, Fiery Fortunetellers, Swinging Stewardesses, Glamorous Gardeners, Waltz of the Flowers (an all-male chorus line), Transfusion Time with the Nimble Nurses, and Gypsy Generation. Sure enough, Bela Schmidt got into the act, too. He played the part of Boris, the King of the Transylvanian Gypsies! THE 36TH ANNUAL STAGE PRODUCTION Nancy Schmidt’s “Hassle at the Castle” marked the 36th year that such performances are staged for the benefit of the PTA of Washington School. This year, according to her, “More than 150 parents and teachers were involved. Twenty volunteers had speaking roles, 20 dance, and 40 took part in the show’s chorus.” The Director of the Washington School Players is Anne Wischuser; Assistant Director, Nancy Schmidt; Co- Producers, Pat Esposito and Jeanie McCullough; Musical Director, Mary Lou Stevens; and Choreographer, Carolee V. Meglaughlin. Although Bela Schmidt may have been the only authentic Hungarian in the whole group, nevertheless after the curtain rang down on the two-day performance, the entire cast of “Hassle at the Castle” held a big gala party at the American-Hungarian Citizens Club of Rahway! Bela Schmidt got into the act, too, as Boris, the King of the Transylvanian Gypsies. Page 7
