Play Rehearsals Continue

The cast of 11 have been working hard with Dr. David Jorns, writer and director.  This photo was taken by Amy Rose, writer for the News-Gazette for her upcoming article.  Saturday they were able to practice for the first time with Ed Adams who is playing the new role of Frederick Douglass.

Cast for Play Deep Into Rehearsals

Trial & Tribulations: The Story of the 1847 Matson Slave Trial program will be in Oakland Illinois on September 16, 17, and 18.  The innovative event combines first-person interpretation at two Oakland historic sites, an 1847 meal, and the performance of Three Fifths of a Man, an original drama.

Dr. David Jorns of Oakland is the writer and director of the play. He states, “We have a great group of dedicated individuals for the play this year.”  They are all working hard to make the production memorable.

Four cast members from last year are back: Jacob Norris, Benny Lee, and Bill McBurney (all of Oakland) are recreating their roles as Lincoln, the patient, and Matson respectively.  Stefanie Borntrager, Oakland, is also returning, but has an expanded part this year as Interlocutor #1 and Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin.  Borntrager notes, “I loved doing the play last year and had to come back. I love acting and working with Dr. Jorns.

Stefanie is also responsible for recruiting Brittany Olinger, Oakland, who is playing Interlocutor #4. “I really liked watching the play last year, and I’ve been in some of the musicals at the high school, so when Stefanie talked to me about it, I figured I’d give it a try.

Another former cast member recruited April Noel of Kansas to play Interlocutor #2 and Mary Chestnut.  In fact, their first names are the same (April Lee was the recruiter) and they’re playing the same character.

Tracy Flesner, Oakland, rounds out the females in the cast by playing Interlocutor #3 and Mary Corbin.  She is sure to give a feisty rendition of the woman who started the whole issue with her temper.

Four new men have joined the cast. David D. Biggs, of Westfield, portrays Rutherford, and his son David M. Biggs of Newman is lawyer, Orlando B. Ficklin.  Both men have had experience acting in community theater which has been helpful in preparing for these roles.  Randy Walters, Hindsboro, is taking his career talking in front of people as a minister into a new venue by taking on the characters of William Gilman and Joe Dean.  The final man is Ed Adams of Round Lake Heights in suburban Chicago.  Ed attended the program last year and has volunteered with the steering committee this year and agreed to create a new role, Frederick Douglass, for this year’s production.

Public presentations of the program are Thursday and Friday evenings from 4-8:30 p.m. and Saturday from 2:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.  Participants should plan to attend the entire time to take advantage of the many activities that shed light on this trial and all its participants.  Tickets are $25/person and are limited, so advance purchase is encouraged.  Groups of ten or more will receive a discounted admission price.  Call 217-508-9113 or e-mail trial.tribulations1847@gmail.com to reserve tickets.

Comments in the Mattoon & Charleston Newspapers from last year for tell an excellent program in 2010

Bill Lair, Managing Editor of the Mattoon Journal-Gazette and the Charleston Times-Courier had the following to say about T & T:

"The people of Oakland did an outstanding job in bringing the people, passions, morals and legalities of the time to life...While I have known the basics of the Matson slave trial for many years, I learned so much more on Saturday...Originally, my wife Cheryl and I thought we might just go for the meal and the play. But the first-person interpreters really added to the understanding of the magnitude of the case...Roger Ashmore, a descendant of Gideon Ashmore, and Kim McGee posed as Ashmore and Rutherford outside of Dr. Rutherford’s historic home. They did a great job of portraying the two key figures in the story and explaining their involvement and their willingness to take action on their beliefs...Marylee McGee, Kim’s wife, portrayed Mary Corbin. She was a hoot! It was not difficult to get a sense of the real Mary Corbin’s temper and charm when visiting with her at a cabin at Independence Pioneer Village. The interpreters, as well as the actors in the play, all are local residents. Three performers from Indianapolis, also at Pioneer Village, portrayed freeman Anthony Bryant, Jane Bryant and Lucy Dupee, a resident of the black community that was just north of Oakland. I don’t know their names but they brought emotion to the roles so visitors could get a sense of the misery and cruelty of slavery..."Three Fifths of a Man” was the play written and directed by David Jorns, former president of Eastern Illinois University. It was more like readers theater, with few props, and very fast-paced. The cast sparkled...Incidentally, I thought the play treated Lincoln a bit harsh but the Matson slave trial is about so much more than Lincoln. It was a polished performance by all."

 

Many of the interpreters and several of the actors will return to their roles this year.  The play has a couple of extra characters, and special activities have been added for Saturday (though any ticket will admit you to those events).  Get your tickets today by clicking on contact us on the website.

Auditions for Three Fifths of a Man

Local amateur actors and actresses are invited to audition to become a part of history, or at least to portray characters and events from history.

Open auditions for the original play Three Fifths of a Man, about the 1847 Matson Slave Trial at which Abraham Lincoln represented a slave owner for the only time in his law career, will be held on Monday, July 19 at 7:00 p.m. in the Columbian Building in Oakland Illinois.  The building is located at the corner of Pike and Main Streets on the picturesque town square.

Male and females over the age of 16 are welcome and no prior experience is needed to audition.  One minute prepared auditions are welcome, but not necessary.  Tryouts will involve reading from the script written and directed by Dr. David Jorns.  Jorns has a PhD. in Theater History from UCLA and has been on faculty at several universities in Missouri and Illinois.  He has directed over 50 plays and is currently teaching theater history classes for Eastern Illinois University at Parkland College.

The mostly male cast will portray real people from 1847 highlighting their inner motivations as well as the historical events.  Jorns explains, “It’s so unlike the history we know from school.  Performers do not need any prior experience in plays to succeed, though they will be required to rehearse regularly.” Jorns is understanding of people’s prior commitments and will be as flexible as he can with rehearsal schedules.

The performance is part of an innovate historical program, Trial & Tribulations, in the evenings on September 16, 17 and 18 where audience members will informally meet seven of the characters from the trial at three historic sites in Oakland, enjoy an 1847 meal, and attend the performance of this play.

The program is made possible in part by a grant from the Ruth and Vaughn Jaenike Access to the Arts Outreach Program of the College of Arts & Humanities, Eastern Illinois University.