“Lady Patriot”- Unexpected Civil War Heroes

By Alix Cohen

A well researched, little known, true Civil War story featuring three formidable women, each dedicated to her own divisive patriotism.

1861- 1865. The Richmond, Virginia home of Jefferson Davis (Gordon Goodman), first and only president of the Confederate States of America. Having been raised as aristocracy of the south, Davis believes that slavery was the linchpin to stable economy. He treats his human property well, even stopping daily to drink with the slave, Ole’ Robert (Count Stoval), yet considers “niggas” lesser human beings. As written and performed, Davis thinks himself an honorable, free thinking man.

Raised on the plantation, Robert, who can neither read nor write, accepts the cards he’s dealt, grateful to be a house slave. Only wistfully recalling the wife and children torn from him to be sold elsewhere, does he express confused pain.

We meet the most important of Davis’s cabinet members, Judah P. Benjamin (Derek Emerson Powell.) The lawyer had been a respected Senator from Louisiana. Often called the “brains of the Confederacy”, unquestionably valued by the Confederate president, Benjamin is initially disparaged and mistrusted as a Jew by almost everyone else around him.

Davis’s imperious second wife, Varina (Josie DiVincenzo) is a mirror of her husband’s beliefs. If anything, she seems more bigoted. According to my research, she didn’t fully support the Confederacy’s position on slavery and was ambivalent about the war itself. The playwright chooses instead to have her embody southern loyalties.

Independent neighbor Elizabeth Van Lew (Jill Whelan), from the same class as Davis, is called “Crazy Bet” by the community for her eccentricities. She volunteers at a local hospital for recovering soldiers from both armies, a gesture incomprehensible Varina.

Lizzie’s extremely supportive of her friend, so solicitous, in fact, she loans free house slave Mary Bowser (Chrystee Pharris) to help with the first lady’s pregnancy. Mary is a jewel. She does everything well with prideful decorum, while hiding her own secrets.

The piece is fascinating for nuances in what might have emerged as distinctly two sides. Cracks appear in every façade. The Confederate government realizes there’s a spy. Collaboration is strategic, subversive, and courageous. Judah is all but accused.

Those championing slavery are vulnerable. Portrayal as a deeply lonely woman makes Varina sympathetic. Jefferson thinks first of his family. Lizzie has a special relationship with Mary. When Robert is given a choice, he surprises everyone.

Afterwards, look up those who acted as turncoats pivotal to helping the union cause. Their story is exemplary.
Lady Patriot is, however, twenty minutes too long and, to my mind, ends three successive times.

Acting is good with Josie DiVincenzo, Chrystee Pharris, and Count Stoval standouts. Playing journalist, Mr. Syldell, Fred Grandy delivers one of the most effective speeches in the piece, an articulate tirade against the righteous Confederate point of view.

Trivia: Ted Lange played friendly, charismatic bartender Isaac Washington, on The Love Boat; Jill Whelan played the role of
captain’s daughter, Vicki Stubing; Fred Grandy played yeoman purser, Burl “Gopher” Smith on the series.

Ted Lange’s direction is effective. To my mind, he’s a better writer.

A minimal set of freestanding period furniture and two large flags work well to place. (Paul Jonathan Davis)
Costumes by Alex Rockey are excellent but for Judah’s patent leather shoes and inappropriate gold border on Lizzie’s skirt.
Music began wrong with Al Jolson’s “Swanee”, segued into modern recordings of folk, featured a solo cello…It was, in fact, all over the place. (Sound design -Will Mahood)

Photos by Maria Baranova
Opening: Back row- Gordon Goodman (Jefferson Davis), Judah P. Benjamin (Derek Emerson Powell), Elizabeth Van Lew (Jill Whelan) ,
Mr. Syldell (Fred Grandy), Old Robert (Count Stoval)
Front Row: Mary (Chrystee Pharris), Varina Davis (Josie DiVincenzo)

Lady Patriot
Written and Directed by Ted Lange
Theatre Row 410 West 42nd Street