Carol Rosegg
Everyone from school children to American history buffs know who Abraham Lincoln is. Sixteenth president of the United States. President during the Civil War. Writer of the Gettysburg Address. The President who ended slavery. The President who was shot in Ford’s Theatre while watching a play. Of course there’s more to Lincoln than that, and the new production now currently on-stage at … Ford’s Theatre titled Mister Lincoln paints a portrait of a humble man with big ideas.
Renowned actor Scott Bakula takes on the role of Lincoln, and when the lights come up for the first time, seeing him standing there is almost like seeing a ghost. Bakula favors Lincoln just enough to give you goosebumps when he appears. In this one man show, written by Herbert Mitgang, we soon learn that what we’re about to see is basically Lincoln’s life flashing before his eyes as he addresses that moment in the box seats, the ones directly above the stage in the theatre where the play is being performed, and begins to reminisce about his life, his childhood of poverty, his brief and undistinguished military career, his job as postmaster in New Salem, Illinois (a job he really seemed to enjoy), his first failed attempt to run for Congress, a second successful run for Congress that was derailed mainly because of his opposition to a war, his love of family, and his ascent to the presidency. One thing seemed constant in Lincoln’s life and that was his complete objection to humans as property. He swore that if he ever had the chance he would bring an end to slavery, that was his mission, and even though he disliked the war and the human toll that came with it, in the end he succeeded in that mission to free the slaves. Of course that came at great cost to him and his family on Good Friday, April 1865.
Mister Lincoln cannot cover all of Lincoln’s life in its short running time, but it does give us more insight into the man that usually gets lost in history classes. Mitgang’s writings of Lincoln’s life are dramatized for the theatre, but are all based on fact and historical anecdotes about the man. It is, of course, impossible to know any of Lincoln’s private conversations, but the writing and Bakula’s delivery make it all seem as if we are hearing the great man himself speak, often with some great wit, such as how he describes the family name of his future wife Mary Todd, and how when he first set eyes upon her he wanted to dance the waltz with her badly (‘And I did’). Responses to inquiries about his neighbor’s financials, or reactions to hecklers at campaign speeches, and his everyday conversations with his business partner in their law firm. All are created by Mitgang, but it still gives us the essence of Lincoln. We also learn more about just how passionate Lincoln was to end slavery.
Carol Rosegg
Watching Mister Lincoln unfold before our eyes and listening to him speak about the issues of his day, one can’t help but realize that it seems when we ignore history we are doomed to repeat it. So many of the issues of Lincoln’s time from shady politicians to ugly racial division are things we are still dealing with today. This historical account of one man’s legacy is still urgently important for the world we live in here and now. Lincoln wanted to make the country a better place for all people, he firmly believed that all men were created equal, and nearly 150 years later it seems that we are regressing as a nation back to the time of Lincoln and before. Lincoln (a Republican, it should be noted) was a liberal, a progressive, someone who didn’t judge anyone on the color of their skin. While we admire this production and Bakula’s performance, everyone should exit the theatre asking how and why, despite Lincoln’s achievements, we’re not progressing as human beings. Lincoln would probably weep if he saw what’s been going on in the past several decades.
Many actors have portrayed Abraham Lincoln over the years on stage and screen, and Scott Bakula’s performance is another fine addition to that roster, from Raymond Massey’s Oscar-nominated portrayal in 1940’s Abe Lincoln in Illinois to Daniel Day-Lewis’ Oscar-winning performance in 2012’s Lincoln. Bakula totally embodies the man, shows us his humanity, his humility, his compassion and his resolve. Once he dons familiar articles of clothing (from Costume Designer Veronica Stevens) like his long black overcoat and a stovepipe hat, you almost feel like Mister Lincoln is standing right there on that stage. Bakula fully embodies Lincoln, and commands the stage by himself for a full 90-plus minutes, never missing a beat, reciting the Gettysburg Address, making the audience totally enraptured with the performance.
Director José Carrasquillo keeps Bakula moving about the stage, left and right, up and down, occasionally sitting at a desk, but the show is rarely static. Misha Kachman’s scenic design is very intriguing, with what appears to be a stage littered with sheets of paper (and there is a quip about the filing system at Lincoln’s law firm that may explain all of this), but there are also important props hidden among the ‘mess’ — letters, an umbrella, telegrams, his stovepipe hat — that Bakula must walk to and pick up for key moments. Matthew Taylor’s lighting design is effective but never overwhelming, and there is a nice use of sound — mainly of crowds murmuring or other voices speaking — by Sound Designer Sarah O’Halloran. My one nitpick is that it seems Bakula is not wearing a mic, perhaps in keeping with the era in which actors had to project to be heard in the back row of the balcony, and at times when he’s got his back to the audience or is addressing one side of the audience or the other, he becomes a bit difficult to hear depending on where you’re sitting. Older audience members or anyone with hearing issues may want to have some kind of hearing device at the ready if they are planning to see this show, because it definitely should be seen.
If you’re a history buff, a fan of President Lincoln, a fan of Scott Bakula, then you cannot miss this production of Mister Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre.
Mister Lincoln runs about 1 hour 40 minutes with no intermission. Recommended for ages 12 and up. The show runs through October 13, 2024.
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