Chautauquans bring First Ladies to life

Editor's note: Anne Blank-ley, a graduate of Cottey College, is helping to lead the Chautauqua series this weekend, an event in which characters from the past are brought to life by accomplished actresses who have delved into the lives of those they portray. This is the third in a series about the project, in which Blankley is offering a behind-the-scenes look at the event and its characters, plus reviews of the performances.

By Anne Blankley

Special to the Daily Mail

Friday's performance of Chautauqua Women at Cottey College was a success. The Chautauqua performance drew a full crowd to the Center for the Arts.

The audience consisted of many participants of Cottey's Vacation College and residents of Nevada and the surrounding area. Many viewers were aware of the history of Chautauqua and had attended performances before, but never one that focused on historic First Ladies.

My day started early Friday morning, with the proofing of a 10-page program I had designed for the weekend's performances that featured biographies of the women actors and the historic figures they portray. Friday afternoon was used to prepare the stage and the actors.

I was present for the technical rehearsal, moving set props and preparing a DVD camcorder to record the performance. The recording of the show will be used to certify these women as true Chautauquans as they are not only required to present a character, but also must host a question and answer session about the character they portray.

Kay Kuhlmann and Barbara Labitska presented the characters Bess Truman, Mamie Eisenhower, and Jackie Kennedy in full costume. The performance began with an introduction to Jackie Kennedy, the First Lady who captured America with her beauty and style. Labitska presented a realistic Kennedy addressing her famous White House Tours and her reaction to the assassination of her husband, President John. F. Kennedy.

Kuhlmann presented a young Bess Truman, an athletic, outgoing woman from Independence, Mo.

Kuhlmann then entertained questions from the audience as an older, more stubborn Bess Truman who is most quoted as saying, "no comment," when approached by the press during her time as First Lady. Kuhlmann also presented the character Mamie Eisenhower, wife of military general, President Eisenhower. The script followed their sincere relationship and the death of their 3 year-old son, "Icky" Eisenhower.

Each segment between these first ladies represented was bridged by music from the time period. These dramatic monologues were rich in history but also allowed for some laughs. After the performance, I was able to ask Barbara and Kay their impressions of the show. Barbara was personally impressed by the responsiveness of Friday's audience. She appreciates any opportunity to perform as Jackie Kennedy although she admits to getting butterflies every time she gets on stage. Kay loved the energy of the audience and was happy with her performance which was the culmination of this week's Chautauqua Institute. She believed the transitions to be the most challenging aspect of the show, yet felt that they went very smoothly. She loves to improvise her material she uses because of her complete knowledge of the Bess and Mamie characters. Both women agree that the Chautauqua Institute has been a learning experience and has allowed them to further their knowledge of the historic women they represent.