Community Theater

Mom & I worked on expanding our cultural sides while it poured down rain on Thursday evening. After seeing "Heroes, Hustlers, Schemers & Scamps (Curious Characters from Rockbridge County History)" advertised in the newspaper my interest was sparked.

Considering the gloomy weather, there was a decent crowd in attendance at VMI's Gillis Theater to watch the nearly two dozen performers recite lengthy monologues as various characters and sing songs from centuries past. Each actor was clad in outfits fitting for the time and character they were portraying and a few had additional props to aid in telling their story. 

The featured heroes, hustlers, schemers and scamps included the following:

• Mary McDowell Greenlee: Independent Pioneer Woman (People thought she was a witch because of her outspoken, independent nature! She lived to be 102 years old.)
• Magdalena Woods McDowell: Wealthy Frontier Widow (Married multiple times she was part of the Borden Grant settlement and lived to be 104 years old.)
• John Peter Salling: Western Explorer & Journal Keeper (Traveled west from Natural Bridge where he spent 2 years in New Orleans held as a captive before escaping and returning to Rockbridge County.)
• Samuel Houston: Patriot & Minister (Cousin to the more famous Sam Houston, his legacy was his service to his country and his ministry in Timber Ridge.)
• Mary Moore: Frontier Survivor (The majority of her family was killed by Native Americans who attacked their home. She was held captive by a tribe for years before being rescued by her older brother.)
• "Jockey" John Robinson: Horse Trader & Distiller (Equestrian dealer and whiskey maker, his estate became a major part of what is now Buena Vista.)
• John Jordan & William Weaver: Men of Iron (Jordan's Point was the home of John Jordan, an iron furnace owner. William Weaver purchased Buffalo Forge and ran multiple furnaces throughout the county.)
• Cyrus McCormick: Inventor of the Reaper (Cyrus created a machine that allowed two men to cut eight to ten acres a day versus four men cutting two acres a day by hand saving farmers time and money.)
• Sally McDowell Thomas Miller: A Divorced Woman (Married at Col Alto, Sally was granted a divorce-nearly unheard of in those times-after being subjected to her husband's physical and psychological abuse.)
• Jacquelin Beverly Stanard: New Market Cadet (A young cadet eager to see battle who was killed in the line of duty.)
• Margaret Junkin Preston: Poetess of the South (An acclaimed poet, Mrs. Preston's brother in law was Stonewall Jackson.)
• Hannah Davidson: Civil War Mother (A woman who lost multiple sons to the war.)
• Lilla Pendleton: A "Modern" Young Lady (Lilla owned a sewing machine and helped the local women expand their fashion senses.)
• Reverend & Mrs. Benjamin Moomaw: Town Builders (Thought they could make Buena Vista the "Pittsburgh" of Virginia. Didn't work...)
• Charles M. Figgat: Bank Robber (Worked at the bank and gained the trust of locals for years before making off with over $145,000 in stolen money leaving behind his wife of forty years.)
• Spotswood Styles: African-American Poet (Local poet who met Robert Frost when he came through Lexington and was praised for his writing.)
• Sally Bruce Dickinson: Irish Creek School Teacher (Taught for five years in the rough and tough area of Irish Creek helping its residence receive a much needed education.)
• Miss Annie Jo White: Lexington Socialite (Founded W&L's Fancy Dress event that continues to this day.)
• Mel Greenberg: Modern Con-Man (Posing as a Hollywood casting director, Greenberg duped locals into auditioning for a fictional movie while passing bad checks at the Keydet General.)

Some of the cast in costume

(Photo by Kelly Nye taken from VMI's website)

Very entertaining and informative, my interest in history and fondness for supporting local arts were both satiated by the community theater event!