Joining Mr. Barker on my first
visit was a young man from Long
Island, who played counterpart to
Barker’s Jefferson as Napoleon
Bonaparte. He was more than equal
to the task, and we enjoyed a spirited
“conversation” and debate between
these two world leaders followed by
a brief question and answer period.
The premise of these events is
that we are taken back to a specific
date in history, at which time the
two participants are engaged in an
informal meeting, with the audience
acting as invited guests. Each actor
has trained himself in the history of
his life and times up to and including
that date, but not beyond it. Thus, they
react to any references to subsequent
history with puzzlement, and they
attempt to interpret them within the
context of their own history.
Therefore, any reference to the
Louisiana Purchase on a date which
preceded it might have been answered,
“Oh? Has someone purchased
Louisiana from the French? I’m
afraid that I am not aware of any such
transaction.”
Similarly, it would have been
impossible to have Napoleon answer
questions about theBattle ofWaterloo,
since on the date in question that was
still in the future.
This most recent “Conversation”
took us back to a date in 1814,
during the War of 1812. James
Madison was President, and a good
friend of Jefferson’s, and whom Mr.
Jefferson had invited to his estate
for a respite from the rigors of his
office. As expected, the actor who
portrayed President Madison bore
a great physical resemblance to the
man, and was outstanding in his own
right. Both gentlemen had obviously
researched their roles in depth, and
were able to converse in a convincing
manner without a prepared text.
Lib Walker and her husband,
Charlie, had tipped us off about this
year’s event, as we had missed it
in prior years. Regular readers will
recognize Lib and her brother, Joe
Jefferson, who are descendants of a
first cousin of Thomas Jefferson (See
Discover SML, Spring 2014). They
were present, along with a number of
others from the Jefferson clan.
The evening began with a
reception featuring hors-d’oeuvres
and
other
light
refreshment,
during which time the two actors
remained in character, yet posed
for photographs. When my Mom
asked to be photographed with them,
they graciously agreed. I jokingly
suggested that they might have all
attended school together, upon which
both leapt to the defense of “such a
fine lady”.
This comprehensive rendering of
the characters makes “Conversations”
an unforgettable experience. They
are dressed in period attire, and
understand nothing that is not of the
characters’ own worlds. Upon being
introduced, Mr. Jefferson remarked
upon the beauty of the evening, the
glory of the sunset, and the good
feeling that came from the music that
was somehow floating through the air
(over loudspeakers).
Madison
was
particularly
amusing in his effusive use of elegant
prose in nearly every utterance. For
example, his initial comment upon
viewing the audience of ‘invited local
guests’ spoke of his mild surprise that
we were not “clothed in the expected
aboriginal attire”. He also remarked
on the apparently large number of
those in attendance by suggesting,
“the local gentlemen might consider
curtailing their domestic activities”.
Jefferson Continued...
Discover Smith Mountain Lake
Summer 2014
12
