Dramatic soliloquy pays homage to Presidents' Day

MILFORD — An encore performance of the three-act soliloquy "Thinking Inside the Box" will be presented at the Columns Museum in honor of the upcoming Presidents' Day.
Patricia Durante brilliantly portrays the three ladies present in the Presidential Box at Ford's Theater the night of President Lincoln's assassination. The play was performed to a full house at the Columns in November, and the museum hopes to accommodate those who couldn't get a seat at the original performance.
The three short plays, performed in costumes created by Dixie Rich, take the audience on a historical journey into the thoughts and recollections of Laura Keene, Mary Todd Lincoln, and the often completely forgotten Clara Harris. Each of these women had to muster the strength to carry on after witnessing the tragedy. Unfortunately, it was a challenge too lofty for some.
The scripts are thoughtful and informative, and each character is brought to life. The character transformation and wardrobe are done on stage to show the audience the art of "quick change," as the actress leaves one character behind to become the next.
Tickets are $25. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the play starting at 7 p.m. at the Columns Museum, 608 Broad St., Milford. Complimentary refreshments will be offered after the performance.
The Columns Museum is the home of the Lincoln flag, which cradled the president's head as he lay dying.
Caption: Patricia Durante as Laura Keene. Star of the play "Our American Cousin"; performed the evening President Lincoln was shot.