When the Museum of the Bible announced an upcoming one man play, A General’s Prayer, at the Museum of the Bible, I wanted to see how that hallmark moment would be portrayed.
In one of the interviews, I learned that the screenwriter was commissioned to write a play based on the famous painting, The Prayer at Valley Forge by Arnold Frieberg, which is on display at the Museum of the Bible.
I couldn’t wait to see how they told this beautiful story of relying on Providence.
INCREDIBLE STAGE DESIGN
Entering the theater, I found myself immersed in the stunning stage design for Valley Forge on Dec 31, 1777, with fife and drum corps music playing, so I felt quite at home! Check my youtube video for the preshow effects.
When the play began, the stage suddenly extended to the side walls on each side of the stage and the ceiling as special lighting created imagery of trees on the walls and stars overhead.
Throughout the play, scenes beyond Valley Forge were showcased on the walls on each side of the stage.
At various points, a mist blew from the depths of the stage into the audience…
Culminating the play was the showering of snow onto the stage…
And thus, we, the audience, experienced 1777 at Valley Forge.
AUDIENCE IMMERSION
With well over an hour to engage the audience, James Denton, who portrayed General Washington, carried the show with a million and one lines fully memorized!
Soon after arriving on stage, General Washington noted our presence.
Looking into our eyes, he even hinted that we might fall asleep at the telling of their desperate situation…
MILITARY DEBRIEF
Thus began his military debrief which included much of his back story of his past ventures during the French and Indian War.
After telling us what led to the American Revolution, he detailed his many communications for help he has sent to the Continental Congress.
Circumstances were dire as his men were short on necessary supplies: food, clothing, and ammunition.
Despite Washington’s many letters requesting aid, little if any arrived.
PRAYER
My favorite scene came towards the end when Washington put on his cloak, which made the moment come to life.
That cloak had all the 18th century feels, carrying the deportment.
And thus, how they recreated the scene from the painting was the best part…which I shall not reveal since that is the heart of the play.
CRITIQUE
My favorite part of the play was the stage design.
Sadly, my hubby and I got lost in the script, even though we know much of the history.
The costuming was pretty good (except for the boots).
James Denton did a great job with all his lines carrying this one man show.
MILITARY THEN AND NOW
Although he is more famous for other roles, I’ve only seen Denton in a fun 2016 Hallmark movie about a career military officer sent to revitalize a military academy (for junior and senior highers).
When he arrives, the officer sees zero military discipline or deportment.
Thus, he endeavors to whip them up into a ship-shape unit.
Hmmmm…that reminds me SO much of what General Washington faced with his own men.
Of course, what is not told in this play, is that in a few months Baron von Steuben arrives from Prussia to Washington’s delight…because von Steuben whips up the troops into a fine fighting force!
Meanwhile, von Steuben also writes the official military training manual…still in use today! (At a Prelude to Victory event I attended one of the guests was bragging how he was retired military, so the Continental Army officers handed him a manual and in disbelief he exclaimed how similar it was to his own when he had been on active duty. It was the von Steuben training manual.)
DEPORTMENT
If Denton had brought some of that military demeanor from the Hallmark movie to the play, he’d be halfway to being George Washington on stage.
Instead, Denton acted like a modern guy, off duty in civies, with a modern attitude of anger…which totally works for the 21st century.
But that was not the 18th century style…and perhaps that was purposeful on their part.
And even though the 1776 production uses no deportment, they got so much historically correct, and effectively lightened the scenes between the tense drama, that it worked.
However, this story is so deeply emotional and serious, that deportment would have carried the play far.
Thus, if the production team had enlisted Colonial Williamsburg, only three hours away from the play’s location in Washington DC, for tips on 18h century deportment, Denton would have totally become George Washington.
DEJA VU
Back to the lines, the only time Denton sounded like George Washington was when he quoted 18th century letters.
Thus, Colonial Williamsburg could have also helped with script edits to achieve the proper 18th century verbiage.
Afterwards, I realized that both the writer and director of this play were the same who wrote and directed the play Lewis and Tolkien, which I had also felt was off.
LEARNING DEPORTMENT NOT EASY
What I do assert, is that I’m seeking to learn the proper history, deportment, and verbiage, myself.
I’ve already taken one class with one of the Colonial Williamsburg employees.
Although I learned so much, I would have benefitted from more hours, tons of hours, as the employees do by studying each year instead of a one-and-done.
Thus, I’m always happy to recommend Colonial Williamsburg for proper styling, just in case anyone has that interest to pursue. =)
