Mary Todd Lincoln to be showcased at ESCC

“It’s a reflection on her life as Mary Todd, but mostly as Mary Todd Lincoln,” Wingate said “It’s also a reflection of her family’s lives.”

The play is set in approximately 1875, after Mary Todd’s stay at Bellevue Place in Chicago, but before she returned to exile in France in her late 50’s

“Abraham is dead, three of her children are dead and her only remaining son she isn’t fond of at all because he was responsible for committing her to a rest home,” Wingate said. “Abe is been dead ten years, but that doesn’t matter to her. She keeps on mourning him.”

Wingate said Todd is often portrayed negatively or as being insane, though several historians say she would likely have been diagnosed as bipolar by today’s standards.

“She was very temperamental,” Wingate said. “She could be personable, loving, caring and then turn on a dime. You’ll see some of that in the play.”

Wingate said at the time, Mary Todd Lincoln had been though a lot.

She lost her mother at an early age, had lost almost all of her children and saw her husband gunned down next to her at Ford’s Theater in 1865.

Despite her troubles, Mary Todd is still regarded as a significant character in United States history.

“She was a political woman at a time when she was expected to stay home with the children. I think in many ways she was ahead of her time,” Wingate said. “Mary Todd was complicated. You either love her, hate her or both.”

Jane Evans, who is directing the play, said she hopes the audience walks away knowing more about Marry Todd than they had previously.

“There are several moments in the play that have a direct correlation to today’s new media, social media and the way people speak to each other and interpret what people say to support their own views,” Evans said. “She even says, ‘The public is often stupid.’ We definitely don’t want our the audience to feel they’re stupid, but I want them to realize the things they say and repeat on social media and in person have an effect years beyond when they say it.”

Though the play only has one actress, it has taken a team of community supporters and students at ESCC to make the play a reality.

“We’ve been working since June, and we’ve bee meeting and rehearsing regularly,” Evans said. “We have a small herd of people helping us that will never been seen.”

Evans said community members have lent property, costumes and other items being used in the play.

Sam Goodson designed the set, art and photography instructor Lynne Ledbetter is helping with production, Laney Brooks and Jan Parker and designing costumes and Jean Johnson, chair of ESCC’s fine arts division, is providing musical accompaniment during the play.

Tammy Robinson is the play’s stage manager.

“It’s a one-woman show, but there are several people who have worked very hard to make this possible and I couldn’t do what they’ve done,” Wingate said. “All I did was memorize the lines.”

Tickets for the play are $10 and are available at the door or at ESCC’s business office in the main administration building.

For more information call, Jean Johnson at 347-2623 ext. (2316).