The Mystery Years
Similar to the inconsistency regarding the exact date that Leo Bernstein purchased the Wayside Inn, information for Wayside Theatre’s early years is equally confusing. Despite the many statements from various sources, the years 1961 and 1962 remain a conflicting story.
It can be stated with certainty that, prior to 1961, there are no articles or advertisements that mention either the Wayside Inn or the Wayside Theatre appearing in any of the three area newspapers, The Northern Virginia Daily (NVD), The Warren Sentinel (TWaS),or The Winchester Star (TWS).
The Maralarrick Mystery
Due to the lack of reliable information for the years 1961 and 1962, it is impossible to determine if any theatrical performance actually took place in Middletown during those years. It remains a total mystery, despite statements that appear in various sources, or that were usually published by the theatre itself, that Wayside Theatre began in 1961. What can be confirmed is that the building that housed the Middletown Movie Theatre had been closed for a period of time before Bernstein purchased it.
Corrections
There are some items in Wayside’s history that have been put forward as fact, but to date they are unable to be confirmed. These are:
the consistent reference to the Maralarrick Players;
the date when theatrical activity began in Middletown;
the confusion over the chronology of the Artistic Directors; and
the names of well-known actors who have performed at the Theatre.