LONG LAKE - Former As the World Turns soap stars Martha Byrne and Ellen Dolan returned to Long Lake for the second annual Adirondack Affair Soap Weekend this fall.

Martha (Lily Walsh Snyder) and Ellen (Margo Hughes) portrayed their characters on As The World Turns for over 20 years. Both leapt at the opportunity to visit Long Lake again.

Guests and fans traveled from as far away as Pennsylvania, Ohio and Syracuse and as close by as Plattsburgh and Lake Placid to participate.

The Friday night Cabaret featured local musicians Paul Roalsvig on guitar, Jason Hall on keyboards and Vickie Sandiford on bongos. Ellen Dolan opened the show with a song dedicated to her 11-year-old daughter, Peter, Paul and Mary’s “If I Had Wings.” She also performed a touching version of Pink’s “Perfect.”

Martha Byrne performed five songs including Lee Ann Womack’s “If I Could Fly” and an acoustic version of Duffy’s “Mercy,” as well as Bonnie Raitt’s “Let’s Give Them Something to Talk About.”

PRODUCTION

Video production launched Saturday at Quackenbush’s Long View Wilderness Lodge. The site was transformed into the lobby of a hotel, an exterior overlooking the lake and a lawyer’s office.

Participants learned lines and blocking and got a real taste of how much work, organization and training is invested into production.

Spearheading the production with his directing skills, Emmy-nominated Fritz Brekeller developed a playbook to make each fan feel like a professional actress. He took time setting up blocking, decorating sets, delivering acting notes and focusing lights.

SPECIAL SCRIPT

Long Lake Parks and Recreation Director Alexandra Roalsvig, a former production associate for As The World Turns, wrote the script for “An Adirondack Affair.”

The storyline focused on Grace Duryea (Martha Byrne) returning to her hometown, Long Lake, after the death of her estranged father. The biggest challenge was to estimate how many guests would participate in the project.

Roalsvig wove fictional characters into the narrative including curious onlookers, a desk clerk, secretary, liquor store manager and Jason, the handyman. Everyone wanting to participate had a line. Norine Lacuyer was able to play two parts.

THE SCENES

The first scene of the day featured Byrne’s character, Grace Duryea, arriving in Long Lake to check into her hotel. Desk Clerk Stephanie was played by one of Byrne’s biggest fans, Jamie Misiak, who flew in from Pittsburgh to participate for the second year in a row.

The final scene was taped at Ali Baba’s Liquor Store on Route 30. The store remained open during rehearsal. A couple of hikers and hunters stopped in and were surprised to find studio lights, cameras and a crowd waiting for taping.

Over the course of the day Dolan and Byrne memorized and taped over 17 pages of material in six hours.

The mini-web series will be edited and uploaded to youtube. Check out www.facebook.com/mylonglake for updates or check www.adirondackaffair.com for more information about when the video vignettes will be available for viewing.

For more information about events in Long Lake contact www.mylonglake.com.