Finding an Explanation

(Left to right) Greg Vinkler and Sean Parris in the Peninsula Players production of “Butler”.

Richard Strand’s Civil War drama Butler made its Midwest premiere Aug. 20 at Peninsula Players Theatre. Butler is a winner of the Edgerton Foundation New American Plays Program and made its world premiere in June at the New Jersey Repertory Company.

Butler reports to duty at Fort Monroe, a Union holdout fort in Virginia. On his first day three runaway slaves, including Shepard Mallory, row across the James River to the fort and ask for sanctuary. Butler’s decision and actions have repercussions that ripple through the rest of the Civil War. While these events were real, Strand takes audiences into the fort and provides a fictional look at what could have been discussed.

Strand became aware of the historical events from a footnote in a Lincoln biography. “The information was tantalizing because it didn’t make logical sense,” Strand said in an interview with the New Jersey Repertory Company. “I couldn’t understand why an anti-abolitionist supporter of Jefferson Davis would take such a personally risky stand against slavery. Doing more reading about Benjamin Butler didn’t really answer that question. Writing the play was my attempt to find a plausible explanation for something that seemed inexplicable.”

Players veteran actress, director and playwright Kristine Thatcher directs this production of Butler for the Players. The cast is comprised of Greg Vinkler (Butler), Sean Fortunato, Tim Monsion, Sean Parris (Shepard Mallory), Peter Brian Kelly and Andrew Purvis. For more information or to reserve tickets call 920.868.3287 or visit peninsulaplayers.com.