Lives and Legacies

Tag: Theatrical Presentations

  • Video: “Twelfth Night at Kenmore,” A Preview

    On January 8, 9, and 10, Historic Kenmore presents “Twelfth Night at Kenmore,” a dramatic theater performance inside the 18th century home of Fielding and Betty Lewis. This short video previews the performance.

    Immerse yourself in the experience the candlelight, music, and decorations of an eighteenth-century Christmas!

    Performance Times: 3:00, 3:45, 4:45 and 5:30 p.m.
    Reservations required. Call 540-370-0732 x24 or email hayes@gwffoundation.org
    Cost: $12.00 adults, $6.00 ages 3-17; free ages 3 and under.

    Learn more about the event at http://kenmore.org/events.html.

  • Photos: Fielding’s Story, A Gentleman’s Sacrifice

    This past weekend, visitors to George Washington’s Ferry Farm and Historic Kenmore learned about Fielding Lewis in the dramatic presentation, Fielding’s Story: A Gentleman’s Sacrifice. They were able to step back in time and see colonial-era Fredericksburg through the eyes of Fielding Lewis—member of Virginia’s gentry, wealthy merchant and leading citizen of Fredericksburg, builder of Kenmore, patriot and supporter of the American Revolution, and husband of Betty Washington Lewis.

    In this historical drama, which spanned from 1750 to 1781, actors portrayed people and events from Fielding’s life in the settings where those events took place. Guests saw Fielding’s courtship and marriage to Betty Washington, visited his newly built home as the guest of Betty , eavesdropped as Fielding considered wartime plans, and witnessed the sacrifices he made for the Patriot cause.

    In certain scenes, dialogue was taken directly from historic documents including a 1750 edition of the Anglican Book of Common Prayer, a letter dated November 14, 1775 from Fielding Lewis to George Washington, and an authentic patriotic appeal in the Virginia Gazette.

    Here are images from Fielding’s Story: A Gentleman’s Sacrifice…

    The play began with Betty Washington (standing-Juliana Jones) arranging tea for an important visitor.
    Betty and her mother Mary Washington (Allie Goldstein) hear the sound of riders approaching.
    Fielding Lewis (Joey Weisband) proposes to Betty.
    Betty Washington Lewis (Barbara Cochran) shows visitors her home and talks about the family she and Fielding have built.
    Betty looks out the window toward the home of her mother.
    Hetty (Ashleé James), an enslaved house servant and washerwoman owned by the Lewises, debates whether to runaway to the British, who promised freedom to slaves and indentured servants that belonged to Patriots.
    Charles Dick (Mike Taylor) arrives to discuss the latest war news with Fielding, his business parther and friend.
    Fielding (John Hollinger) greets his friend.
    Charles and Fielding discuss how to fund the Patriot gun factory they have been made responsible for by the Virginia Convention.
    Lawrence (Elijah Beale) questions his father Fielding about whether all the sacrifices he made are worth independence.
    With his father deathly ill, Lawrence wonders about the future.

    The next theater production presented by The George Washington Foundation will be Twelfth Night at Kenmore in January 2016. As we approach the holidays, watch http://www.kenmore.org/events.html for details!

  • Photos: “Twelfth Night at Kenmore”

    Today – January 6 – marks the end of Christmas or, at least, it did two centuries ago.   If we lived in the days of George Washington, Betty Washington Lewis, and Fielding Lewis and moved within their social circle, we would all be preparing for the grandest celebration of the Twelve Days of Christmas, which began on December 25.  This grand event, known as Twelfth Night, was celebrated much in the same way that many of us mark New Year’s Eve with family and friends gathered together for food, drink, sweets, music, dancing, games, and conversation.

    This past weekend, Historic Kenmore hosted just such a celebration in the form of a theatrical presentation titled “Twelfth Night at Kenmore.”  Set in January 1776, as Fielding and Betty Washington Lewis end their first Christmas in their newly built home, “Twelfth Night at Kenmore” depicted an unusual seasonal celebration, as the growing American Revolution brings fear, doubt, and frustration to the Lewis family, their friends, and members of the enslaved community.

    Kenmore is lit for the celebration.
    Betty Washington Lewis (Amy Wolf) and daughter-in-law Nancy Alexander Lewis (Juliana Jones) ponder how the war might impact the family.
    Betty welcomes her guests.
    Guests listen to Betty’s welcome.
    (l-r) John Lewis (Michael Taylor) and George Lewis (Will Goldstein), two of Fielding Lewis’s sons, are joined by Captain Richard Taylor (Scott Houk) , a local ship’s master, in the singing of a traditional carol.
    Visitors, some who came dressed in colonial-era clothing, join in the singing.
    Fielding Lewis (John Hollinger) leads the singing.
    Our excellent musicians for the evening: Zach, Kelsey, Kaylee, and Luke Payne.
    George Weedon, a leading Fredericksburg patriot and tavernkeeper.
    Captain Taylor and George Weedon argue about the wisdom of suspending horse racing because of the war.
    The men continue debating.
    George Lewis (Will Goldstein) expresses his desire to enlist in the Continental Army.
    Captain Taylor, John Lewis, and George Lewis play cards while discussing George’s desire to enlist.
    Hetty (Ashlee’ James), an enslaved washerwoman and house servant for the Lewises, overheard party guests talking about Lord Dunmore’s offer of freedom to slaves and wonders if she ought to run away to the British side.
    The “Twelfth Night” cast.