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Behind enemy lines
‘Dog Days’ at Victorian Players tells true story of soldier from Salem who was shot down over France during World War II.
By GUY D’ASTOLFO
Youngstown
When J.E. Ballantyne Jr. first heard the story of Albert Wickline, the first thing he thought was, “This has got to be put on stage.”
Wickline was a Salem resident who was shot down behind enemy lines in Nazi-occupied France during World War II. He rode out the war hiding in the barn of a sympathetic French family.
Wickline, who died in 1999, was the grandfather of local actor Sara Klimenko. She told Ballantyne his story a few years ago when the two were working on another play.
Ballantyne wrote a script and will direct his work, titled “Dog Days,” which will get its world premiere Friday at Victorian Players Theater.
With the help of an old video in which Wickline recounts his wartime experience, Ballantyne was able to faithfully reconstruct the amazing and true story.
“[Wickline] wanted to escape, but he couldn’t because the Nazis had the borders blocked,” said Ballantyne. “He hid for 13 months on the farm. The Nazis knew he was in the area and searched the house five times.”
The French family that harbored Wickline told him to stay in the barn, warning him to steer clear of their dog because it was so mean.
“By the time he left, he and the dog were best friends,” said Ballantyne.
Playing the dog is Maximus, a search and rescue German Shepherd owned by Boardman police officer Jack Neapolitan.
Maximus makes only a brief appearance on stage, but a recording of his barking also is used in the play. The trained pooch responds to hand and voice commands from his master, who instructs him from behind the stage.
At one point, Nazi soldiers took control of the farm. The French family got through the tense patch by passing off Wickline as a deaf and dumb relative — a nervewracking effort for the soldier, who had to make sure he didn’t involuntarily react to any sudden noise.
The two-hour production of “Dog Days” takes place in the farmhouse. It will be accompanied by a World War II photo exhibition in the theater.
Davin Stillson, a Liberty High School student, plays Wickline. Playing the French family are Bill Shorr, Audrey Allen, Brian Root and Camille Smith. Rounding out the cast are Glenn Stevens, Ryan Newell, Gary Deckant, Ed O’Malley, Gerri Jenkins, Chuck Creiger, Christopher Chaibi, Josh Fleming, Vinnie Dragos and Josh Lankford.
“Dog Days” marks the third play Ballantyne has written based on true World War II events (the others are “Block 5” and “A Light in the Darkness: A Story of Hope During the Holocaust.”
Why the predilection for the great war? “I don’t know,” said Ballantyne. “I don’t look for the stories — they come to me.”