HOW TO GO
What: Our American Cousin
Where: Urbana University’s Black Box Theatre, 579 College Way, Urbana
When: Thursday, Feb. 27, through Saturday, March 1, 8 p.m.; Sunday, March 2, 3 p.m.
Admission: No cost
More info: 937-484-1409 or go to www.urbana.edu/news/university/254
It never won a Tony Award, isn’t a favored revival on Broadway or performed in high schools. But “Our American Cousin” is one of the most important plays in American history.
The comedy farce was performed at Ford’s Theatre in Washington D.C., the night of April 14, 1865 with President Abraham Lincoln in attendance when he was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth.
As one of several presentations tying into its “Abraham Lincoln: the Constitution and the Civil War” exhibit, Urbana University will present scenes from “Our American Cousin” at its Black Box Theatre on campus in the Hub at 8 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
This production will also include commentary and living historical accounts of those attending the play that fateful night as part of Urbana’s ongoing docudrama series, “Theatretalks.”
Englishman Tom Taylor wrote the play in 1958 about an honest but unrefined American who inherits the family estate in England to the annoyance of the aristocratic family. It was popular with 19th-century audiences and would become infamous a few years later.
The story goes that Ford’s Theatre didn’t know until that day Lincoln would attend. Booth, who was an actor although not in that production, was familiar with it. He timed the shooting during a line that got big laughs.
Performers will include Urbana University students, faculty, alumni and community volunteers and a student crew will handle the production.
The show was written and will be directed by Margaret Piatt, assistant theater professor at Urbana University.
The theatre has 60 seats and reserved tickets are recommended.
Forty of the 60 seats will be reserved and the rest available on a first-come, first-served basis. To reserve tickets or for more information, call 937-484-1409.
The exhibit “Abraham Lincoln: the Constitution and the Civil War” will run through March 20 at Urbana University’s Swedenborg Memorial Library.
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