On June 15, the new Time Travel Theatrical Company presented “My Dearest Friend: A Play About John and Abigail Adams” at Great Road Church in Acton. The play, written by Peter Manos, is based on the letters written by John and Abigail over the decades before, during, and after the Revolutionary War.
While most New Englanders know something about John and Abigail Adams (he was famously cranky, and she begged him to “Remember the ladies!”), this two-person play fills out both their relationship to each other and to the roles they played in the Revolutionary Era. The actors, Katie Broach and James Hunt, did an admirable job filling their roles, and the costumes, while simple, helped explain changes in time and place.
The play begins at the end of Abigail’s life, where they reminisce about their lives and bid a fond farewell. It then jumps back to the 1750s, when they are newly married and John is a circuit court judge — literally riding a circuit to provide justice for the towns and villages in his district. While he is out on the circuit and Abigail is home in Quincy raising their children, the two begin a correspondence that lasts more than 50 years.
As their lives unfold, John gets involved in politics, which brings him to Philadelphia; writing the Constitution then keeps him there. As the years go by, John is often on the move, but he and Abigail keep writing to each other regularly. The letters fill in many details of their lives and how they intersect with the world stage; and when they are together, their conversations continue.
The stage and set for “My Dearest Friend” are simple, as befits a traveling play, and it gets the point across. A series of prompt cards on an easel helped the audience keep track of the dates; however, with each date change, the conversation stopped so that Abigail could get up from her seat to change the card. It mostly worked, but not quite.
The play is an enjoyable two hours and it helps bring personality to both John and Abigail Adams.
While “My Dearest Friend” only played for two nights in Acton, it will be playing at several other locations, including nearby Chelmsford Center for the Arts (July 2) and 51 Walden in Concord (July 14 and 15). The producer and director, Laura Bilodeau is especially excited that the play will be run at John Adams’ house, Peacefield, in Quincy (June 30). For details about dates and times see the Time Travel Theatrical.
Miriam Lezak is an associate editor and occasional writer with the Acton Exchange.
