Pearl City Players

ASYULM: THE STRANGE CASE OF MARY LINCOLN

Sep 09, 2009

A musical drama will be the next production of the Pearl City Players Theatrical Society. ASYLUM: THE STRANGE CASE OF MARY LINCOLN will be presented on September 25, 26, and 27 in the New Era Community Building next to Wild Cat Den State Park in eastern Muscatine County. The show begins at 7:30 on Friday and Saturday and at 2:00 on Sunday. Tickets will be available at the door and are $10 for adults, $8 senior citizens, and $6 for students.

The show takes place ten years after President Lincoln?’s assassination when Robert Lincoln was compelled to have his mother committed to an insane asylum. Imprisoned at a time when women had few rights, Mary Lincoln must draw on all her strength and cleverness, as well as a few courageous friends and the memory of her husband, to fight the system and set herself free. ASYLUM is a haunting character study of a strong-willed woman, it makes history come alive.

June Bingham has done extensive research and has written a riveting, suspense-filled drama which is historically accurate. Carmel Owen?’s songs take the audience on a lyrical journey into the mind of a woman nearly driven mad by the loss of three sons and her husband.

ASYLUM debuted in New York in 2006. Variety offered this opinion: ?“Engrossing! Adventurous! [ASYLUM] keeps us listening intently.?” John Simon of Bloomberg News wrote, ?“Gratifying!?…A worthy musical! Humor and suspense?…deft dialogue! Looking back from the show?’s moving climax, one feels both educated and entertained!?”

Delene McConnaha stars as Mary Todd Lincoln. Delene spent twenty years as a professional classical singer, performing in many operas, oratorios and solo concerts. Her local roles include the Narrator in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat", Ruth in "The Pirates of Penzance", and Golde in "Fiddler on the Roof". She is also a frequent soloist with the Muscatine Civic Chorale.

Delene is supported by an extraordinarily talented cast including Allyson Peniston as Mary?’s devoted nurse, Delia; Chris Weber as Robert Lincoln; Jon Carlson as Dr. Patterson, owner of the Asylum; Rebecca DeBlaey as Mary?’s friend Myra Bradwell; Nick Oswald as Chicago Times reporter Franc Wilkie; Jenni Boldt as Young Mary; and Jake Siefers as Young Abe.

The production is directed by Bill Turner with musical direction by Anita Zahniser. During intermisson, desserts from Elly's Tea and Coffee will be available.

Following the performance on Sunday (at approximately 4:00pm), a workshop on the Fundamentals of Stage Lighting will be held with Master Electrician Neil Holmquist. He will discuss theatrical lighting equipment and techniques. Everyone is welcome to participate in this educational opportunity.

Please pass this information on to anyone who may be interested in the show or workshop.