Guest Blog: History Meets Histrionics in Colonial Williamsburg’s Newest Comedy!

Last Friday, I got to get to see a sneak preview of Colonial Williamsburg’s newest live performance Sword Play. Directed by Tonya Lynn, it’s a slapstick sketch comedy that slyly teaches viewers about 18th-century weaponry and theater in Williamsburg during the Revolution.

“Mr. Hallam’s Players” is a fictional troupe of actors based on real-life people and events. The premise of the play is that Mr. Hallam (a real historical figure who lived and worked in Williamsburg) has taken his actors and gone to Jamaica (which really happened). “Mr. Hallam’s Players” are the actor apprentices he left behind. They find themselves on their own trying to ply their trade in an environment where theater and other “expensive diversions” were outlawed due to the war.

Eighteenth century actors had to be multi-talented; they had to be able to sing, dance, and stage fight. Oh, and (of course) act. Mr. Hallam’s players are no exception. They enter operatically singing a nonsense song, setting the tone for an evening of over-the-top, absurd comedy. Everything in this show is exaggerated—from the accents (foppish British accents for Redcoats and Appalachain accents for the Americans), to the facial expressions, to the flammable tempers.

Another aspect of 18th-century theater is the concept of “encore.” When you shout “encore,” the players have to repeat whatever scene they just did. This was pretty popular not only among the kids (who love seeing things over and over again), but also among the (ahem) older kids in the audience. As a bonus, Mr. Hallam’s Players didn’t stop just at repetition, they repeated their actions in slow motion, or with variations on the original, providing some extra laughs along the way.

18th-century audiences were pretty vocal in expressing their pleasure, or displeasure, in the performance on stage—more like a modern sports event than a theater performance. If you find it hard to express yourself in this fashion, have no fear! The members of the Players not on stage will join you in the audience and gleefully shout “Bravo!” or “Boo!” or whatever the situation might require.

The actors themselves are fun, enthusiastic, and an absolute joy to watch. They were selected after a national audition and have been hard at work since Memorial Day preparing for Sword Play. In addition to those performances, they are now in rehearsals for The Servant of Two Masters, which starts in July. After their summer engagement here at CW, some will go on to tour nationally, some will go back to school, and some will go back to their “real jobs.” There’s one we won’t have to say goodbye to. Austin Fitzhugh is staying on to become an actor/interpreter here at CW!

Sword Play runs through August 22. Upcoming shows are Wednesdays-Fridays at 7 p.m., alternating between outdoors at the Charleton Stage and indoors at the Kimball Theatre. Tickets are $18 for those 13 and up, $9 for kids ages 6-12, and free for those age 5 and under. Good Neighbor Pass holders, don’t forget you get 25% off! You can get your tickets at the usual places- the Lumber House, Merchant’s Square, or the Visitor Center.

If you’d like a chance to win FREE tickets for your family to attend, simply add a comment below the blog. You’ll also get to meet the cast after the show! It’s that simple. Our winner will be chosen at random and notified by July 6.

I leave you with more photos from the final dress rehearsal and opening night!

Guest Blogger: Crystal Wallis Graves

Crystal is a fundraiser by day/blogger by night. When not working in Development for Colonial Williamsburg, she runs WhatsHappeningWilliamsburg.com, a blog highlighting affordable activities in the Historic Triangle. She’s also a classically-trained violist who performs with the Hampton Roads Philharmonic and the Jamestown String Quartet.

One of Crystal’s favorite things about Williamsburg is all the intelligent, generous, and curious people she’s gotten to know here!