In Their Own Words
Note: In Their Own Words will not be presented this year. Please come back next year when we will again present the dramatic retelling of the first day of the American Revolution from eyewitness accounts.
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A dramatic retelling of the first day of the American Revolution from eyewitness accounts. Performed by candlelight with members of the Lexington Historical Society, The Lexington Militia and His Majesty’s 10th Regiment of Foot. Directed by Marilyn Rea Beyer and adapted by Rick Beyer.
Sunday, April 15th, 2012 6:00 PM & 8:00 PM First Parish Church 7 Harrington Road, Lexington
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From The Lexington Minuteman
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Living history: Performers tell Lexington's revolutionary story
April 19, 2010 Lexington —They say history is written by the victors. In the American Revolution, it was the colonists who ultimately claimed victory in their fight for independence from the British Empire. And it was through their eyes that modern day Lexingtonians were able to get a glimpse of history on the eve of Patriots’ Day. A sold-out crowd entered Lexington’s Pilgrim Congregational Church Sunday night for “In Their Own Words,” a dramatic retelling of the events leading up to the Battle of Lexington on April 19, 1775. As Lexington Historical Society Director Susan Bennett remarked in her introduction, there is “no more powerful testimony [than] the words of who where there.” |
 The cast of ‘In Their Own Words’ after their performance at Pilgrim Congregational Church in Lexington Sunday. Photo by Kathryn Riley |
“They weren’t writing history, they were living it,” said the Rev. Judy Brain, who served as the narrator for the evening.
The production, presented by the Historical Society, featured 11 actors giving the accounts of 28 men and women who witnessed the events of April 18 and 19. Some of the remembrances were from a few days after the events, some from more than 50 years later.
While the production featured the words of familiar historical figures such as Paul Revere and Samuel Adams, it also included the writings of not only the local militia, but also the British regiments and local bystanders as well. As Marilyn Rea Beyer pointed out, the actions and violence of those days were not limited to Minute Men.
“The Redcoats experienced it [and] the townspeople experienced it” said Beyer, who directed the production.
Drum and fife music provided the soundtrack for the story as the actors, dressed in period garb, performed by lamplight on a sparsely decorated stage in the church sanctuary.
The use of a variety of primary sources for the production led to a fascinating examination of conflicting viewpoints. A violent confrontation between British soldiers and the local militia showed contradicting viewpoints as both sides attempted to portray themselves in the most positive light. There were disagreements on matters ranging from the number of people involved to which side actually attacked first.
Despite the subject matter, the performers did find some moments to inject humor into the proceedings, such as the story of Mary Munroe Sanderson (portrayed by Jane Morse) finding an injured British solider in her home. Sanderson’s annoyance at the solider, who refused to eat any food she offered for fear of it being poisoned, and the revelation that Sanderson retold the story frequently until her death at age 104, drew some laughs from the crowd.
Many of the performers were treated like rock stars at the show’s end, posing for photographs and even signing some autographs.
“I’m glad to see so many kids here,” said Carla Fortmann, who portrayed Elizabeth Clarke and Dolly Quincy. “For me, this is really the essence of a historical society.”
“I absolutely loved it,” said Sandra Bastianeli, who was waiting for a photo with the performers. “For children, I thought it was a different way to look at history.”
Copyright 2010 Lexington Minuteman. Some rights reserved
The production, presented by the Historical Society, featured 11 actors giving the accounts of 28 men and women who witnessed the events of April 18 and 19. Some of the remembrances were from a few days after the events, some from more than 50 years later.
While the production featured the words of familiar historical figures such as Paul Revere and Samuel Adams, it also included the writings of not only the local militia, but also the British regiments and local bystanders as well. As Marilyn Rea Beyer pointed out, the actions and violence of those days were not limited to Minute Men.
“The Redcoats experienced it [and] the townspeople experienced it” said Beyer, who directed the production.
Drum and fife music provided the soundtrack for the story as the actors, dressed in period garb, performed by lamplight on a sparsely decorated stage in the church sanctuary.
The use of a variety of primary sources for the production led to a fascinating examination of conflicting viewpoints. A violent confrontation between British soldiers and the local militia showed contradicting viewpoints as both sides attempted to portray themselves in the most positive light. There were disagreements on matters ranging from the number of people involved to which side actually attacked first.
Despite the subject matter, the performers did find some moments to inject humor into the proceedings, such as the story of Mary Munroe Sanderson (portrayed by Jane Morse) finding an injured British solider in her home. Sanderson’s annoyance at the solider, who refused to eat any food she offered for fear of it being poisoned, and the revelation that Sanderson retold the story frequently until her death at age 104, drew some laughs from the crowd.
Many of the performers were treated like rock stars at the show’s end, posing for photographs and even signing some autographs.
“I’m glad to see so many kids here,” said Carla Fortmann, who portrayed Elizabeth Clarke and Dolly Quincy. “For me, this is really the essence of a historical society.”
“I absolutely loved it,” said Sandra Bastianeli, who was waiting for a photo with the performers. “For children, I thought it was a different way to look at history.”
Copyright 2010 Lexington Minuteman. Some rights reserved
