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Diane And Her Danes Keep Cast in Stitches

By Jacob Schaad Jr. SWAINTON - Busy Diane Saloff is a serious ffctress who still manages to keep her fellow performers in stitches. When she’s not studying lines or acting or serving cocktails or coaching her star struck Great Danes, the versatile brunette occupies her time designing and constructing costumes for the 76 House Dinner Theatre here. Since 1979 she has been responsible for thousands of costumes worn by the musical comedy performers at the year round theatre. Evidence of the challenges she faces occurs in the production of “Camelot” which had a successful run early this year and is enjoying a summer reprise with "The Music Man.” In “Camelot,” the South Seaville resident not only plays the difficult role of Queen Guenevere, created by Julie Andrews in the Broadway.version, but has designed, sewed and maintained 50 colorful costumes. "I'm not so sure which was more difficult, my on stage assignment or my role behind the scenes,” Diane said in -etrospect. TO PREPARE HERSELF for her costuming chores, Diane attended a revival performance of "Camelot" on Broadway. While she was impressed with the cast, she was less than enthusiastic about the costuming which she said had coloring that clashed. Returning to Cape May County, Miss Saloff used some old fashioned American .ingenuity. She started off. at the shop of upholsterer Frank Migone in Rio Grande where she purchased velvet, satin and brocade. She lugged the 1 material to her home, some to the theater and after taking measurements of the cast, she began her seamstress duties that resulted in highly favorable, acclaim from the audiences. In the period of three weeks she readied the costumes and rehearsed her leading role.. “The costumes were very expensive, vefry pretty and very not,” said Diane. "The cast perspired alot.” The 26-year-old actress, who started sewing at the age of 12, characterizes herself as a “fair real-life seamstress.” “Sewing clothes and sewing (Page 2 Please)

inside: Keen Beans A Nurse's House

SPitlAL SfCTIONOFTHff HIRALD AND LANTiHN AUGUST T$. 1903