Headless horseman rides through Sarasota Polo Club
The Players Centre for Performing Arts presented 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' at the Sarasota Polo Club.
By
Pam Eubanks
| 8:07 p.m. October 27, 2017
East County
Neighbors
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As the dusk fell upon the Sarasota Polo Fields, tales of the supernatural and of the Headless Horseman floated through the air as farmers, their wives and students welcomed the town of Sleepy Hollow’s new schoolmaster, Ichabod Crane.
University Park’s Carol Osten and her daughter Sara Osten were bright-eyed with delight as ghostly figures crept across a stage Oct. 27. They hoped to catch a glimpse of the headless horseman riding across the field. They weren't afraid.
“It would be disappointing if we didn’t (see a horse),” Carol Osten said.
But the evening proved the perfect surprise as The Players Centre for Performing Arts brought Washington Irving’s famed “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” to life, complete with a chase by the Headless Horseman himself.
“It’s perfect,” Sara Osten said of the evening.
Before the show, guests enjoyed a stroll through Tarrytown, where they could purchase organic popcorn, mingle with ghouls and play games of tic-tac-toe or checkers on giant sets using small pumpkins for board pieces.
Yvonne Perez, as the Woman in White, cackles as she warns the crowd about Sleepy Hollow's history.
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Ivy Morton, as Katrina Van Tassel, laments that she may have the prettiest ankles and feet in all of Sleepy Hollow, but there are no suitable husbands for her.
The new schoolmaster, Ichabod Crane (Anthony Spall) carries a book related to witchcraft as he meets families in Sleepy Hollow who will provide him food and shelter.
Brom Bones, portrayed by Andrei Nesterenko, gets a scolding for his mischievous behavior from Farmer Stuyvesant, played by Bob Fahey.
Artist Cassidy David paints the face of 4-year-old Braden Baker to match his Superman T-shirt while visits Tarrytown before the show.
Phil Pagano sells his organic popcorn, including his secret-recipe cinnamon popcorn, before the show.
Panther Ridge's Hayden Ross and Camden Martin play a pre-show game of checkers with pumpkins as game pieces.
Lucy Walter, Jayda Link and Uli Link, all of Sarasota, ride horses together and came out because of the show's connection to the Sarasota Polo Club.
Maria and Fela Lodrini feast on cotton candy as they watch their brother, Marquise Lodrini, portray the role of Yost.
Lakewood Ranch's Dan and Aline McAllister say the choice of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" is perfect for Halloween.
Debbie Rossi, with Mac Maclary, dresses as the bride of Frankenstein for the occasion.
University Park Country Club's Wayne, Carol and Sara Osten can't wait to see if the headless horseman makes an appearance.
Players Centre for Performing Arts actors perform for a full house on opening night Oct. 27.
