In 2004 I wrote (actually finished writing) an original play (with music by Steve Przybylski) about a fascinating period of American History. The play, Robert E. Lee and John Brown: Lighting the Fuse focused on the intersection of the careers of those two American icons at Harpers Ferry when Robert E. Lee was sent to put down John Brown's rebellion. The play had a successful run and audience really were intrigued by it. I was particularly grateful that the historians who came to see it, felt like the play measured up to the history that it was based on.
As a part of the John Brown Sesquicentennial that is kicking off this year to mark the 150th anniversary of John Brown's raid, we're remounting the play as the third play in our season. (The Gin Game is actually next up for us, following the season opener, Man of La Mancha.) I'm just getting back into the groove with the piece, with the history, and with the myriad of meanings the play opens up, and I guess that's a great thing as tomorrow morning (Saturday, 26th) we have a press conference to kick off Sesquicentennial events here locally in our area.
Tonight I head to the airport to pick up good friend and great actor, John Alcott, who will be reprising the role of John Brown. He's coming in for the weekend's festivities and will be heading back to Chicago after that. He'll be back in August for rehearsals. John and I haven't worked together in awhile so it will be great to get back into that groove. (He's also playing Sherlock Holmes for us in the show following Lee & Brown.)
I'm really looking forward to getting back into this play as the spark points still intrigue me. When we were bringing it to life in 2004, so much of the context (beyond the historical) was centered around terrorism. I kept protesting back then that that wasn't my intent. But often a writer's intent is usurped by events. I'm not sure how events in the intervening years will affect my or the audience's context this time around, but I'm anxious to find out.
The preface to the title of this post could have multiple meanings as the actor playing Robert E. Lee also is named John.
