Amelia (a play)

Why, yes, I do have broader horizons than just concerts. This was a 90-minute, Civil War–era, one-act play performed (appropriately enough) in the underground powder magazine of a fort on Governors Island.

Two actors, portraying multiple characters. Amelia (Shirleyann Kaladjian) is a headstrong, and smart, dairy farm worker/manager on her family’s farm in Pennsylvania. Ethan (Alex Webb—also the playwright) is her eventual husband. (Production note: Mr. Webb portrays Amelia’s husband, and father, and mother, and—oh, heck, and every character who is not Amelia. This takes a bit of time to settle in to, but once it does, it works like a charm.)

Amelia (see headstrong and smart, above) doesn’t seem to have many prospects in the romance department, and doesn’t seem too concerned about it, to the chagrin of her mother. Well, it seems that Ethan (new in town) is the kind of fellow who appreciates a smart woman and winds up marrying her just before enlisting in the Pennsylvania 20th Volunteers. Before leaving, right after they are married, he assures her that it’ll only be three months. In hindsight, we know that this will not be the case.

The letters flow back and forth—then suddenly stop. After two years of waiting, Amelia decides that she needs to go and find Ethan. She sets out with a chestnut mare and starts heading south. She is aided along the way; then things become less easy and more frightening. She persists into the south, always trying to glean as much information about the Penna. 20th. She works a stint as a nurse (the doctor, Mr. Webb, of course, simply assumes that she’s there to help, so she helps), she’s helped by farmers, she’s shunned by farmers, she’s aided by a black slave who is part of the underground railway, and she eventually hears that the bulk of the Penna. 20th who haven’t been killed are POWs in Andersonville Ga.

She finally, after a horse-thievin’ Rebel (Mr. Webb) forces her to search on foot, realizes that the only way she can continue is to assume the role of a Yankee soldier; she sees a slain young boy and becomes “Private Miller.” Amelia is no more.

Through various travails, Miller makes it to Andersonville as a captured POW, and insists on being sent in even though he is given a chance to stay out. But Miller is on a mission—a nigh-onto-three-year mission, by now—and is sent in, and then befriended by a fellow who eventually reunites her (she has revealed who she is and that she is searching for her husband) with Ethan.

Ethan has a gangrenous leg and is not long for this world. Amelia has been banged up quite a bit as well, and is not likely (as a POW) to get the medical treatment she needs, especially if they find out that he's a she. Ethan asks her to repeat a favorite story of his, about herself, as he is resting his head in her lap. She does … as the lights … fade.

Both the story (apparently based on a true story) and the dialogue were somewhat melodramatic—but that’s not really a bad thing, concerning the tone, era, and personalities of the drama. Both actors were top-notch; I was almost tired just from watching them. All in all, well worth my time in a Revolutionary War fort on a Sunday afternoon. I’m glad I got to meet Amelia and Ethan (and all the others that Mr. Webb threw our way along the way).

ConcertMeister