Actress stays in character after play to chat with audience members

LEWISTON — “Mrs. Smith Goes to Washington” is an important Maine history lesson wrapped up in an entertaining and gracious visit with U.S. Sen. Margaret Chase Smith.

This new play by Out of the Box Theater co-founder Linda Britt and performed to perfection by Sally Jones is just right in the small space of the new Downstage venue of L/A Arts. Britt also directs the performance of her well-researched play.

Jones, director and performer for the Oxford Hills Music and Performing Arts Association, is the only actor on stage, but the script’s flashbacks to significant events and conversations allow her to step into a few other brief personifications. She even assumes the character of her nemesis, Sen. Joseph McCarthy, as she waves papers and spits out threats against his dreaded lists of suspected Communist members and sympathizers.

There are many moments in which Sen. Smith’s strong personality is captured, and it’s evident that no one would ever tell her what she could not do. The show traces her marriage of convenience to Clyde Smith, whose election to Congress first brought her to Washington, and it later emphasizes her deep friendship with her chief aide, Gen. William Lewis.

 A highlight of the play is Jones’ simply delivered reading of Sen. Smith’s “Declaration of Conscience” speech denouncing the excesses of Sen. Joseph McCarthy’s anti-Communist crusade.

 Britt’s script holds the audience’s attention and covers all of the major events in Sen. Smith’s life, including being the first woman nominated to run for president.

 The production runs somewhat more than an hour without an intermission. However, anyone in the audience who leaves immediately at the end will miss what might be called Act Two.

 Jones returns to the stage and invites members of the audience to share their stories and memories of Sen. Smith. Following the sold-out Sunday performance, more than half of the audience returned to seats to talk with Jones, who stayed in character as the senator.

 One man told how Sen. Smith helped him with his senior thesis, and even made a personal call to straighten out a professor who questioned some facts. He said he had known Sen. Smith well and he credited Jones with capturing the senator’s diction, body language and even “the way she cocked her head.“

 A woman recalled how Sen. Smith had intervened during World War II when her husband was needed at home but couldn’t get a release from Coast Guard duty in the North Atlantic.

 Although Jones was alone on the stage, numerous people worked behind-the-scenes to produce this play. Costumers Jackie McDonald, Loretta Perry and Michelle M. Washburn came up with the senator’s familiar blue dress and her signature pearls and rose. Stan Spilecki was technical director and designed the lighting which is used effectively in the 50-seat Downstage theater.

Remaining shows

WHAT:  “Mrs. Smith Goes to Washington”

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 26-27; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28

WHERE: DownStage at L/A Arts, No. 5 Canal St., just off Pine Street, Lewiston

TICKETS: Call 782-7228