Sunday, October 23, 2011

Elizabeth Oakes Smith Visits Patchogue

Today was my first theatrical re-enactment of EOS thanks to Marjorie Roe of the Greater Patchogue Historical Society, Sister Grace Rowland of Clare Rose Playhouse and SJC, and the Patchogue Arts Council. In the first half I read a letter to Sarah Whitman. Marjorie and I combined real EOS diary entries from the early 1860's to create this letter. The second half is a fictitious lecture. To create this part, we took our favorite lines and ideas from the article series "Woman and Her Needs." Some of the words in the speech we modernized for the 2011 audience.

To prepare, I studied mid-19th century style of dress and the few pictures I've seen of EOS. The hoop skirt that shaped the dress, and other props, were lent to me by the Islip Town Historical Society.  The dress itself I got on eBay - the deal of the century. Its style is actually more colonial, so I added the velvet jacket. The sleeves are made from a discarded lace curtain.

I've read many old newspaper reviews of EOS's real lectures to get a sense of how she delivered a speech. From those accounts I attempted to say the words as she would, in a way that was "soft spoken," but "spirited."

Sister Grace and Marjorie have been meeting with me since the summer to design the presentation and practice its delivery. Marjorie and I were interviewed by a freelancer from one of my favorite hometown newspapers, Long Island Advance. I have a feeling that's not the last you'll be seeing of Elizabeth Oakes Smith.
 -Loren

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

BRAVO!! Well done Loren.
Love
Liz

Seba Smith said...

I am so proud to call you my wife.

Putz said...

i am so proud to cal you my wife

Putz said...

i see your friend[ELIZ} in a very earlier post has given plauge a real going over, ha ha ha, that makes me laugh<><>SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN FEARFUL TO ME ALSO<><>YOU HOWEVER ARE JUST A PUSHOVER WHEN IT COMES TO ME OR PLAUGE<><>YOU REMAIN SO SWEET AND I JUST LOVE your voice on the eos presentation<><>you could be an actress dear dear loren<<><>i bet milkman is so so proud of you<><>women not to drawf themself, own soulds< not like being bought and sold<><>distinctive role in society, why should we dwell on what father or husband thinks, but dwell on her own thoughts<><><.hoooray for loren, what a champion<><>i also appaude you

Dear Internet Traveler,

Welcome to my writer's blog, started about six years ago for fun. Over time, the writing I have posted has ranged from personal reflection, to Long Island history research, to tall tales for my own amusement, to feature articles for local newspapers. As you can see from topics listed here, I travel in many mental directions in regard to interests. Click on the tabs and labels to explore my strange mind which senses that you may be having a criss-cross day. If so, perhaps this blog will distract you. However, please note that if you tell me my blog is beautiful just to get me to advertise rhinoplasty surgery and cheap drugs from Canada in your comment, I will ask the gods to give you a tail that cannot be concealed.

Fondly,

Loren Christie

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