Mr. and Mrs. Van Tassel portrayed by Tim Csuti and Nicole Cabe

What do three school boys, a German immigrant, the director of Homeless and Youth Programs at the Cooperative Ministries, a PhD student in biomedical science, and a fine Paso Fino Mare have in common?

Give up? They were all part of the Riverfront performance of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow presented by The River Alliance and Innersight Multimedia. My buddy, Isaac, and I went to see the October 31 performance at the West Columbia Riverwalk Amphitheater and it was great!

The set designed by Ren Hartung, and the artistic work by Angie Brown provided a wonderful backdrop for the play cleverly adapted by Lorrie Rivers. Washington Irving’s Legend of Sleepy Hollow is set in the 18th century farming community of Sleepy Hollow, nestled in a valley north of Tarry Town, NY, late in October of 1795. The story centers on two young men, Brom Bones and Ichabod Crane who are vying for the affection of a beautiful and wealthy young woman named Katrina Van Tassel. There is also a ghostly presence in the hollow…a headless Hessian who gallops through the valley in search of a new head…or so say the locals.

Ren Hartung, aka Brom Bones, and Clifford Fischer, aka the Headless Horseman The play, directed by Lorrie Rivers and Rand Courtney, was a wonderful evening of family entertainment. It had just the right mix of horror, storytelling, and humor.

Mike Lee, the Narrator, added much humor to the story with his snappy and slightly sarcastic commentary. The school boys, portrayed by PJ Price, Forrest Chow, and Caleb Mack, also provided comic relief with their typically childish antics but the funniest situations by far were the creation of Rand Courtney, who played Icabod Crane. His duel with Brom Bones was hysterical because of the ineptitude of the school-teacher’s swordsmanship and his ultimate win by fluke. Still more entertaining was his decision to break into “the Worm” in the midst of a traditional 18th Century barn dance.

Katrina was superbly portrayed by Madeleine Hamer, a sophomore theater student at USC. Ren Hartung was perfect as the swaggering bully, Brom Bones.

Caleb Mack, aka Peter I also loved the bickering between Willem and Yonce, Brom Bones’ flunkies, ably portrayed by Alfred Kern and Paul Covington. However, the most impressive part of the show, given the location of the production and the obstacles it presented, was the equestrian skill of Clifford Fischer and Brisa the Paso Fino as the Mad Headless Hessian pursued Ichabod Crane into the great unknown.

It’s too late for you to enjoy this great play for yourself this year. but there are some upcoming productions that might tickle your fancy.

Lake Murray Baptist Church presents The Man Called Jesus the first three weeks in December. For tickets and information call 803-359-1556.

Robin Hood is to be presented at the West Columbia Riverwalk Amphi-theater this spring. To check for availability of tickets or for more information on Innersight Multi-media check on the World Wide Web at www.innersight-multimedia.com.

Forrest Chow, aka Harold, is a sixth grader at Hammond School. The production of the Legend Sleepy Hollow on the river would not have been possible without the support of Security Federal, the City of West Columbia, the CMFA, Workshop Theater, Trenholm Road United Methodist Church, the River Alliance, and Innersight Multimedia.

Fable of the Lion and the Mouse .

Mike Lee as Dietrich provided skillful commentary throughout the show. PJ Price, aka Walter, a fifth grade student at Brennen Elementary, had loads of lines to remember and he delivered them well. Ren Hartung as Brom Bones spends his days as a PhD student in biomedical science at USC and also dabbles in set design. He admits to being hooked on acting from his first experience portraying a log in a grade school production of the