Martha Washington Visits provides educational programs disguised as engaging intimate conversations.
What makes what I do unique from other historical interpreters? I feel that through conversation, true connections are made and learning is absorbed more readily. What I do best is “become” Martha, and give audiences a chance to time travel with her while I share stories, converse and visit. It is the personal presentation that makes the connection happen. For example, in my “A Personal Conversation in Mrs. Washington’s Bedchamber” Program, I have the scene set from the moment the audience arrives. I have a table that is Martha’s dressing table – clothing and personal items, letters, jewelry. It may look like a still life setup, but as my program progresses, items on the table are put into use or passed about the room for the guests to touch and feel. During my time with my audience, I provide them with their own tactile experience through their senses: I pass around reproductions of clothing and correspondence, provide samples of one of her recipes, read aloud George & Martha’s own words, and share experiences from her life that they can relate to. While the circumstances and world view may have been vastly different between an 18th century woman and a 21st century audience member, our emotions and certain experiences are the same. I want people to relate to me AS Martha, to connect to me through shared life experiences such as love and loss, and one’s duty battling to prevail over one’s inclinations, recognizing that the founding generation was made up of people just like themselves. Humans who were just that. Human. Not perfect and not all knowing. Just like humans now.
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