A few days ago, we made a late but successful journey from the Northern Virginia tundra to Colonial Williamsburg.
The afternoon before a heavy blizzard descended upon us, leaving roads slick according to the news reports.
Concerned about safety, I was relieved when someone called to say the roads themselves were good in our area and just GO, even though we had the deepest snow.
That was great news, because we couldn’t be late for a very important date.
MEETING ALEXANDER PURDIE
We arrived in CW close to 1pm so we made our first stop to the Tucker House.
For the first time we got to see Alexander Purdie there.
Since he runs the Gazette, he’s the go-to guy for information.
He informed us of the latest breaking news January 1774 news that Lady Dunmore had recently arrived in New York and was expected to arrive in Williamsburg later to join her husband, the royal governor.
DANCING
Afterwards we walked to the Raleigh Tavern where we were ushered in to a program where the guests take dance lessons with the dancing master.
I am always amazed how the dancing master can effectively communicate all those 18th century steps to 21st century people and get them all moving in various directions to music!
That afternoon we had an opportunity to see a lot of the actors out of costume that perplexed me each time while they simply grinned while awaiting that moment of recognition.
Many of the conversations went like this:
“I know you, don’t I?” I’d comment as I struggled to remember where I had seen them.
“Yes, you do,” they simply replied with a bigger grin.
Eventually I made the connections, sometimes after hints, and we’d have a good laugh.
AUDITION
Then my son auditioned for an upcoming EFT…which means he’s trying out for a part with lines.
We’ll know later how that turned out.
ACTOR’S TRUNK
The next morning, we began our day of programs at the Mary Stith House for the Actor’s Trunk, where actors from the Playbooth Theater share costumes, props, playbills, renderings, etc of 18th century theater related items for a come-and-go session where we are free to ask questions.
Even though we had done this before, we found lots of new items that prompted new questions from us.
My son asked a lot of great questions (A+ for him), one of which was about the harlequin.
As the actor detailed information about harlequins, my daughter said that she thought we had read a book about harlequins.
Hmmmm, I couldn’t think of any.
She kept struggling with that idea while I asked the actor if the court jester was a precursor to the harlequin and he went into detail about how it was.
After he told us all about that my daughter exclaimed that the harlequin stories reminded her of a play we had read last year, Waiting for Godot!
The actor said she was correct, then deeply explained how the two tied together! Wow! I was quite impressed!
I told my daughter she got an A+!
ICY PELLETS
When we left it had begun to precipitate tiny icy pellets, which later turned to liquid drizzle.
MILLINER
Finding a warm spot in the milliner shop, the mantua maker kindly gave direction to some of my sewing projects.
First, I wanted to see their latest project, since their work is so beautiful.
They are making a new silk gown, in cream and green, for the big conference in March.
They were sewing sleeve ruffles while I was there.
Then I mentioned my plan to handsew jackets for myself and my daughter, which resulted in much talk about various stitches and piecing, while looking at some of the garments they have made.
When I asked about period accurate flowers on hats, I got to hold a huge stamp to cut out flower pieces for hat trimming!
I forgot to take a picture of it, but it can be seen in the lower left part of the picture.
THOMAS JEFFERSON
Then we went to the Mary Stith house to meet a Nation Builder.
While waiting for the mystery historical interpreter to come speak at the Mary Stith house, the crowd grew.
Some of the guests marveled over my kids’ costumes.
Perplexed, they commented about my son: He looks like someone we’ve met before. In fact, we met him yesterday at the Mary Stith house. His name is Lafayette, and he said he had just arrived from Yorktown.
I played along with comments like, “Imagine that!” =)
Then Thomas Jefferson arrived!
RALEIGH TAVERN ENTERTAINMENTS
Afterwards we went to the Raleigh Tavern for a program called, Drive the Cold Winter Away.
While watching a couple of different games, I became most
interested in Whist, since I always hear about that in Jane Austen novels.
My son remembered it from Around the World in 80 Days.
It reminded me a bit of a game I’ve played before, like hearts or spades.
Then we were taken to the Apollo Room where there was dancing and singing with 18th century townspeople.
MUSEUM EXHIBIT ACCESSORIES
After this program we visited the newly opened exhibit for Fashion Accessories from Head to Toe.
When we arrived, a friendly volunteer gushed over the kids’ costumes.
Calling another volunteer over to see them, he said I *had* to go see the accessories exhibit which had just opened a few hours before.
Playing with them, I told them that sounded like a great idea!
Then he wanted to know if my daughter had a pocket.
Yes, it was under her skirts.
He wanted to know how she accessed it, so we demonstrated.
Wow, he was thrilled that she was wearing it just like the people in the video in the exhibit.
He exclaimed that we *had* to see the video so that we could see how 18th century people get dressed.
The lady incredulously looked at him and said, “I think they have that part figured out.”
I smiled, while te man exclhaimed, “That’s true! You all should go up anyway, then you kids should just stay there so people can see how it all goes together!”
Excellent idea! So, off we went!
CANDELIGHT MUSIC AT THE RALEIGH
That evening we attended a candlelight musical trio at the Raleigh Tavern with the piano forte, German flute, and viola de gamba!
That was a lovely concert with great commentary and humor from the gifted musicians.
On top of that, after the program they told us they always mix up the music so anytime we come back, it will be fresh.
That’s putting the living into the museum!
VIOLA DE GAMBA
Our final day was relatively warm and sunny.
We went to the Mary Stith House to chat and listen to music with the gentleman who plays the viola de gamba.
PATRICK HENRY
After lunch we returned to the Mary Stith House to meet another historical interpreter.
While waiting to enter with my son was standing behind me, a guest said to me, “I wonder what the speaker behind you will talk about?” (referring to my son in costume)
I laughed and said I didn’t think he was talking that day.
The guest noticed my son had a tag on his cloak, which was backwards.
Apparently, the man didn’t believe me.
The guest flipped the tag over, expecting to see the name of the great historic person whom he thought would speak.
As the guest read, paused and pondered…he finally declared in shock, “This is a pass!…A season pass!… You’re a guest!” =)
Then he looked at my daughter and said, “She’s in costume too!”
I smiled and calmly said, “I don’t think she’ll be speaking either.”
Then Patrick Henry arrived! There were so many guests that I was seated in the front next to Patrick Henry, facing the audience!
As Patrick Henry thundered his rhetoric, bout the political situation in January 1774, the guests displayed the best emotions!
After the program a lady asked me if I was responsible for the costumes in the back seats (my kids’).
PLAYBOOTH THEATER
Arriving at the Raleigh Tavern, we listened to a flutist, who took requests, then played Name that Tune.
Then we saw the Playbooth Players in two different programs.
Performing skits, music, and poetry in the first program, Pleasures of the Playhouse, they switched to readings illustrating the separateness of the times between church and theater, in Player and the Pulpit.
We heard a few interesting pieces written by the Great Awakening preacher, George Whitefield, who previously trained in theater.
