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Paradox Players Premiering Civil War Spy Drama, Sisters Under the Skin

Updated: Monday, April 9 2012, 06:14 PM CDT
By Rob Faubion, AustinOnStage.com

The Paradox Players will stage the world debut of the historically-based Civil War espionage drama, Sisters Under the Skin, written by Austin playwright Paullette MacDougal. 

Running May 4 through 20 at the Howson Hall Theater, the production will feature the Heritage Chorale performing spiritual songs born of emancipation, 19th century religion, and the struggle for freedom.

Early in the American Civil War, educated slave Mary Bowser became a dining room servant to the Jefferson Davis family in the Confederate White House in Richmond. Pretending to be dull-witted and illiterate, Mary reported what she saw and heard – war strategy, troop movements, weaknesses in the rebel forces – to her owner, Elizabeth Van Lew.

To avoid suspicion, Elizabeth - who sent the information through the lines to Lincoln and Grant - feigned insanity, earning the name “Crazy Bet.”  Facing certain death if discovered, Mary and Elizabeth - slave and owner - became Lincoln’s eyes and ears in the heart of the Confederacy.

Sisters Under the Skin started as a short play called Crazy Bet, which was awarded "Best of the Fest" in FronteraFest 2011.  Playwright MacDougal fleshed out the story to a lull-length drama.

"Lots of people, intrigued by the story, urged me to write a full-length version," MacDougal said.  "The fact that 2012 is the 150th anniversary of the drafting of the Emancipation Proclamation was an incentive for me to really get my skates on.”

Directed by Gaia Farnam, the debut staging features Rae Petersen as “Crazy Bet,” Rodnesha K. Green as "Mary Bowser" and Peggy Schott as "Mrs. Jefferson Davis."
The Heritage Chorale is under the direction of Madeline P. McCauley, Minister of Music at Ebenezer Baptist Church.

 Performances run Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m.  Tickets are $15 for general admission and $10 for students, seniors  and groups of 10 or more.  Tickets are $20 for the May 4th Opening Night Gala - which includes a post-performance reception with refreshments.

The Howson Hall Theater is located at 4700 Grover Avenue inside the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin.  For more information and reservations, call (512) 744-1495 or visit ParadoxPlayers.org.

(Photos by Margaret Roberts)Paradox Players Premiering Civil War Spy Drama, Sisters Under the Skin