Published: October 11, 2008 11:37 pm         

DACC students to recreate Lincoln/Douglas debate

DANVILLE — The first sighting of the famous couple occurred, appropriately, in Lincoln Park, when Abraham Lincoln and his wife Mary Todd visited Danville for June’s Arts in the Park.

The famous couple next appeared at Civil War Days in September, where troops from both sides greeted them with the respect they were due. A smaller group enjoyed their presence that same weekend at a dinner in their honor at the Vermilion County Museum shortly before the couple left for what would be their last night at the theater.

The Lincolns, as portrayed by Max and Donna Daniels, have a busy year ahead as the celebration of Lincoln’s bicentennial birthday sweeps Illinois in 2009. Others also will act the parts here and elsewhere during those events.

The official kick-off of Vermilion County’s “Celebrating Lincoln: a Year of Remembrance” takes place Saturday and Sunday at Danville Area Community College.

A debate between Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas will be staged for two nights at DACC’s Bremer Conference Center. DACC students will portray the two men, their sponsors and representatives of the hoop-skirt movement who unofficially supported one of the two. This group of early suffragettes will mingle with the audience and express their views privately. Another student will serve as the moderator for the debate, which will be conducted in town hall style.

Don and Sue Richter of the Vermilion County Museum Society met in June with DACC President Dr. Alice Jacobs with their idea for the kick-off event. According to Glenda Boling, DACC theater and communications instructor, when Jacobs asked for Boling’s opinion she received an enthusiastic response.

“I always want to show students what they’re capable of doing,” Boling, a national award-winning educator, said, “and Lincoln is such a part of the history of this area.”

With that endorsement, Don Richter crafted a script that combined the actual words of the two men into a debate-like format. Lincoln and Douglas never had an actual debate in Danville, but both spoke nearby during that presidential campaign.

“The two of them debated more in central and western Illinois,” Sue Richter said. “We don’t know why they never held an official debate in Danville, but they gave speeches here during that period.”

She said an area then known as The Grove, near the current site of Douglas Park, was a preferred location for political rallies at the time. She said her husband Don used the actual words from debates the two conducted elsewhere, as well as newspaper articles and eyewitness accounts to create this work of historical fiction. The focal point of the debate will be slavery and states’ rights.

The students portraying these historical figures feel they’ve had an education along with an opportunity to appear onstage.

DACC freshman Joe Lewis will portray Lincoln, and he sees his responsibility as “to make him as alive as possible.

“Lincoln spoke with a Southern accent,” Lewis said. “He had some weird mannerisms (when he spoke) that Don Richter recapped for me and I’ll use. He was a very awkward person and not a very good public speaker, but his message was great. The main thing I want to show is his enthusiasm (for his beliefs).

“Lincoln remains a hero,” he said. “I think anything done to celebrate him is worthwhile.”

DACC student Aaron Martin, who considers himself a singer more than an actor, has warmed to his part as Douglas.

“He was an angry speaker, a fiery man,” Martin said. “I have that in me.”

The cast members hope to attract a diverse audience to this debate, especially because of the parallels it has to contemporary politics. They anticipate that other students will attend along history buffs and those who enjoy theater.

The performances will be free, but seats must be reserved ahead of time due to limited space. Refreshments will be served and entertainment will be provided.

IF YOU GO

The Vermilion County Museum Society and Danville Area Community College’s theater department will present a debate between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the DACC Bremer Conference Center, 2000 E. Main St. Admission is free, but tickets should be reserved ahead of time due to limited seating. Call the Vermilion County Museum at 442-2922 to guarantee a seat.