As part of the America 250 celebration, Shepard-Pruden Memorial Library presented The Five Freedoms of Americans, a one-act play written by Lisa Laws, during its Colonial Day program on Saturday, Sept. 19.
Laws set the play in Edenton in September 1789, as Americans considered the protections that would eventually become part of the Bill of Rights. By bringing together characters based on actual residents of the period, the production gave its audience of approximately 25 adults and children an opportunity to explore the freedoms protected by the First Amendment through a conversation rooted in Edenton’s past.
Laws portrayed Lydia Boyd Bennet, one of the women who signed the 1774 Edenton Resolves, while Edward Stiver played her husband, William. Scarlett Pfannenstiel appeared as their daughter, Margaret, and Phenyx Dickson-Kratz portrayed their son, Henry.
Donterrio Rogers played ...Revolutionary War veteran Jonathan Overton, with Tanaa Hines portraying his son, James. Chowan County Commissioner Larry McLaughlin took on the role of local newspaper publisher Maurice Murphy, and Patrick Lee served as the closing narrator.
Revolutionary War veteran Jonathan Overton, with Tanaa Hines portraying his son, James. Chowan County Commissioner Larry McLaughlin took on the role of local newspaper publisher Maurice Murphy, and Patrick Lee served as the closing narrator.
“Since I had played a ‘Tea Party Resolves signer’ character around town many times as Lydia Bennet, I decided to use both of these little-talked-about historic characters in a fun, one-act play,” said Laws, who served as the play’s writer, producer, director and one of its performers.
Finding the young actors proved challenging until Gena-Erin Copeland, a music teacher at John A. Holmes High School, stepped in to help.
“Mrs. Gena-Erin Copeland of John A. Holmes High School collaborated with me to find young cast members after all my flyers around town and in my neighborhood brought no response,” Laws said. “She was wonderful, as were the students from JAH.”
The performance made a significant chapter of national history feel close to home by presenting it through the voices of people who once lived in Edenton. The setting was especially fitting, given Edenton’s prominent place in North Carolina’s colonial history.
Watch the accompanying video to see the story unfold.
Finding the young actors proved challenging until Gena-Erin Copeland, a music teacher at John A. Holmes High School, stepped in to help.
“Mrs. Gena-Erin Copeland of John A. Holmes High School collaborated with me to find young cast members after all my flyers around town and in my neighborhood brought no response,” Laws said. “She was wonderful, as were the students from JAH.”
The performance made a significant chapter of national history feel close to home by presenting it through the voices of people who once lived in Edenton. The setting was especially fitting, given Edenton’s prominent place in North Carolina’s colonial history.
Watch the accompanying video to see the story unfold.
