It was one of the most tumultuous times in American history.
General Shermans March to the Sea had debilitated the Confederate Army and changed the direction of the Civil War. President Abraham Lincoln had just been reelected and his signing of the Emancipation Proclamation meant that slaves were now free.
It is against this historic backdrop that Paula Vogel weaves together stories from all sides on a blustery Christmas Eve in Washington DC in 1864. "A Civil War Christmas: An American Musical Celebration," presented by Act 1 DeSales University Theatre through Dec. 11 on the Main Stage of the Labuda Center for the Performing Arts, 2755 Station Ave., Center Valley is moving and thought-provoking.
The production intertwines carols, traditional music and spirituals with various scenes, as everyone prepares for the holiday with the hope of peace in their hearts.
The talented 14 person cast portrays dozens of characters, both real and imagined, from President Lincoln himself to former slaves seeking a new life in the capitol.
Christian Tuffy is a lanky and all-too-human Lincoln who ditches an official party to ride through the chilly night to get his wifes Christmas present. He imbues Lincoln with a casual confidence although there are also notes of foreboding as Lincoln crumples up a paper warning of a plot against him.
Molly Hofstaedter is a determinedly positive but mercurial as Mary Todd Lincoln who wants desperately to please her husband with a hard-to-get Christmas tree. Hofstaedters Mary Todd is particularly touching when she sneaks away to sing "Silent Night" to a dying soldier in the infirmary.
Kayman Brown is poignant as Decatur Bronson, a blacksmith who enlisted in the Union army after his wife was taken by confederate soldiers. His rendition of "Yellow Rose of Texas" sung to his missing wife Rose, is devastating. Brown makes Decatur bitter, but redeemable.
Briana Myers makes Rose a grounding, loving presence.
Myers also portrays former slave Hannah who is fleeing with her young daughter Jessa to Washington DC to be free. As Hannah, Myers is strong and single-minded. As the lost Jessa, Kayce Rawls is heartbreaking. The role is double cast and Lavaya Rochester plays the role at alternate performances. The mother-daughter singing of the spiritual "Follow the Drinking Gourd" is moving and memorable.
Abby Ruger is buoyant as 13 year old Raz, a young boy who runs away to join the Confederate army.
He is accompanied by his horse Silver, amusingly portrayed by Nicole Lawrie.
Johnny Drumgoole is earnest as Chester Saunders, a new recruit in the Union army who is a Quaker and a pacifist. He portrays Chesters struggle to reassure his mother of his safety and stay true to his beliefs by not killing a fellow human.
Lee Shaw gives Mary Todds assistant Elizabeth Keckley an air of barely concealed pain as she tries to use her sewing and handwork to not dwell on the death of her son who died in the Union army.
Director Paris Crayton IIIs pacing is somewhat slow but shot with bursts of energy supplied by creative choreography by CaSandra Danubio and Jasmine Bright.
Will Neuert created the dramatic Washington D.C. set, and Deborah Burrill, costume designer, recreated the period costumes.
Tickets are $30 for adults and $28 for students and seniors Monday through Thursday and $34 for adults and $32 for students and seniors Friday through Sunday. There are two talk-back performances with the cast on Dec. 4 and Dec. 5. The Dec. 10 performance will be streamed and tickets are $15 per viewer.
Performances are 8 p.m. Nov. 30, Dec. 1- 2 and 7-10; 2 and 8 p.m. Dec. 3; 2 p.m. Dec 4nd 11 and 9:45 a.m. Dec. 5.
For information, call 610-282-3192, or go to tickets.desales.edu. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow