We waited upon the Governor to know when he would appoint to receive our address, and he told us he would send word tomorrow. From thence Charles Carter and the Attorney dragged me to the Play, and there I was suited with Stupidity and nonsence delivered from the mouths of Walking Statues. -Colonel Carter who attended a play in Williamsburg, April 15, 1752.
No one needed to drag in me and my kids to see Colonial Williamsburg actors recreate the 18th century play, The Walking Statue.
I’ve always wanted to see one of Colonial Williamsburg’s evening plays at the Kimball Theater, where they have full costume and scenery for a full 2 hour production.
After the prospective student tour at Christopher Newport University, we drove to Colonial Williamsburg, got our tickets, and enjoyed some sandwiches from the Cheese Shop.
Then we excitedly arrived at the Kimball, anxious to see if we knew any of the actors.
We did! Many of our favorites were there! They did not disappoint us.
They were wonderfully period appropriate, silly, and full of nonsense.
I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard.
I have been to many programs by the Colonial Williamsburg Playbooth Theater, which is about 30 minutes long with short skits.
All wonderfully acted, as an audience we are always encouraged to become vocal, 18th century style.
Boo! Hiss! Huzzah! Encore!
Before the performance of The Walking Statue began, we were again strongly encouraged to participate.
We were told that the actors, while in character, do know we are an audience watching them and they do want our full participation!
Wow, did we ever! It was great fun and made for wonderful hilarity!
The show begins with great fun as the opening character pulls off, or attempts to, the first of his many disguises in his quest to deliver an important note for his master.
His comedic deliveries are done mostly with a serious face, which I think makes it all the more fun.
One of my favorite interactions was between the elderly father and his young daughter.
The father was horribly nearsighted with glasses and couldn’t see a thing without them.
At one point we were feeling quite sorry for the daughter, so we commiserated in unison: Awwww.
Looking directly at the audience, the elderly father shook his head, saying: Don’t encourage her.
Whenever this elderly father left the stage at the end of the scene, we’d clap and he’d come out bowing and smiling at all the attention he was receiving!
The moving of props between scenes was not secretly done in black attire on a dark stage. Oh no!
The 18th century was far more creative than that!
The servants moved with props onto the stage in full lighting, to our great delight.
We started applauding them!
The lady servant always blushed and curtsied….which made us encore her just for fun!
However, the man servant was always quite serious while moving the props onto the stage.
When he lugged a h-e-a-v-y well onto the stage, just to tease him, we encored him.
He gave us a look, waved his hand at us, and walked off.
In fact, whenever he hauled something off stage he’d exit while looking at us over his shoulder with quite a serious expression.
Perhaps you had to be there…yes you should go!
I have never been so entertained by the moving of props.
We were told that the understudy needed to step in on this fine evening to portray the cheerful and dashing Corporal Cuttum.
He was the Mr. Buff of the 18th century who smiled with a sparkle.
My son was impersonating him later that evening, complete with gestures: You must be French in your tastes and desires. You must be Spanish in your step. And you must be Irish in your tongue and the way you speak. (or something like that)
After the program we chatted with the actors and took pictures.
The Walking Statue was so great, I was ready to come back again and again!
Because the audience interacts with the actors, no two performances are the same.
Before the play began, I did not have time to read the entire program, but now that I’m home and reading it, I’m laughing!
I discovered I’m not the only one who enjoys attending numerous programs!
In the summer of 1770, Thomas Jefferson purchased tickets to performances on June 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, and 28. When the company opened its fall season, he attended plays on October 23, 26, 27, 29, 30, and 31 and November 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8!
