Indy Fringe is always a hectic time for the theater lover. So many wonderful performances, so little time, but this year there was an especially poignant performance that I will always remember. I was lucky enough to catch Abraham Lincoln at TOTS last weekend and it was a real treat to have a conversation with him and get to see his humor, compassion, and homespun wisdom on a personal level. That is to say, that I was able to enjoy Danny Russell’s on-stage creation of Ol’ Abe. Mr. Russell makes our sixteenth president come alive on the boards. Lincoln seems to be a role Danny Russell was born to play. He has been taking Mr. Lincoln and introducing him to audiences across the Midwest and has been honored by the Indiana Arts Commission for his work.
Abraham Lincoln takes the audience on a journey through the president’s life as he reminisces about his family, his Indiana childhood, the tragic loss of both his beloved mother Nancy Hanks Lincoln, and his dear sister and closest childhood companion Sarah Lincoln Grigsby, in childbirth. There was much tragedy and heartbreak in Lincoln’s life and Mr. Russell is able to demonstrate how these sorrows made Abraham Lincoln strong both morally, and spiritually. No matter if you are a history buff or just a fan of great theater, viewing Danny Russell’s characterization of Abraham Lincoln is a rewarding experience that you will long remember.
If you want to see Abraham Lincoln, there is still time. It will presented on both Friday August 23 at 6:00 p.m. and again on Saturday August 24 at 9:00 p.m. at Theatre on the Square -Stage II. Definitely a 4 star production.
