Colleen O'Brien: the journey to Eliza Powell's ballroom for "Eliza and Patsy"

Colleen O'Brien

Colleen O’Brien is ready to bring Elizabeth Willing Powel to life in “Eliza and Patsy”, the play she wrote with Janice Erickson Smith. Eliza (Mrs. Powel) will be appearing at her residence with Patsy (Martha Washington) at the Powel House, 244 South 3rd Street on September 8, 9, 15 & 16 at 7pm and 9pm. The two good friends will allow their audience to eavesdrop on a conversation about their lives and times. And they have great
costumes and jewelry.

Colleen O’Brien comes well prepared for the challenge and joy of creating this character. When the jobs her degree in Computer Science brought seemed empty and boring, she “ran away to the circus” and became an actress. There were the inevitable “pay the bills” jobs at the start, including working at a gas station at night, but as she took classes, persevered at auditioning and learned to view acting as a proactive business venture—looking for work rather than waiting for auditions—she found success. She has been a full-time actress for several years now working in television, commercials, industrial films, film, and voice-overs.
 

Colleen O'Brien as Eliza Powell

Playing an 18th century woman isn’t really new to O’Brien. She has been an 18th century 1st person Interpreter: one of those people in interesting—but weird (!) clothes walking around Olde City Philadelphia going about their 18th century business. The women usually wear a ruffled cap, sometimes carry a basket and you hear a lot of “prithee” when they speak. But what better way to send us back to that time and place than to fill the place with people living an imagined 18th century life in the clothes of the time!

O’Brien became interested in Elizabeth Powel when she realized how little was known about her and that no one was impersonating her. Elizabeth Willing Powel was the wife of Samuel Powel, the last colonial Mayor of Philadelphia. Elizabeth and Samuel were supporters of the war for independence, the “movers and shakers” of their times. Their home at 244 South 3rd was the hottest place in Philadelphia and George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Lafayette, and John Adams were frequent visitors. Adams was immensely pleased with the desserts and described them as: “Everything which could delight the eye or allure the taste: curds and creams, jellies, sweetmeats of various sorts, twenty sorts of tarts, fools, trifles, whipped sillibub, &c.” O’Brien realized too that Eliza would provide a “good wardrobe”, one far more elegant and interesting than that of the seamstresses, washerwomen, maidservants, and milliners O’Brien had been portraying.
 

Janice Erickson Smith as

As O’Brien set out to learn about Eliza, she realized that most people knew of her only as the person who wrote a very persuasive letter to George Washington, encouraging him to serve a second term as President—an amazing thing. And, in fact, Eliza was given a lock of Washington’s hair and a piece of wood from his coffin when he passed away. The two were good friends. In her research at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, O’Brien also saw the letters between Eliza and her husband Samuel.

Along with her research among the letters, objects and history books like “Founding Mothers” by Cokie Roberts, O’Brien found herself in search of appropriate jewelry. To that end, she came across a jewelry business run by Janice Erickson Smith. Over some lovely pieces of jewelry the two women discovered a mutual interest in 18th century history and Smith’s interest in Martha Washington. The rest is, well—history---or “Eliza and Patsy”, a play about two strong, incredible, very different women
with a front row seat at the of the birth of the United States of America.

Eliza was a sophisticated, intelligent, edgy, passionate, sometimes dramatic, cutting edge
social hostess. Patsy (Martha) was a calm, laid-back person, much more interested in domestic affairs. Yet, the two women were close friends with a real affection for each other and an enduring friendship. The Washingtons visited and stayed with the Powels often in Philadelphia. The Powels visited the Washingtons at Mount Vernon no less than six times.

“Eliza and Patsy” is a conversation between the women that takes place in 1782, just after
the war for independence. They will be conversing in Eliza’s ballroom where Colleen O’Brien will give us a three-dimensional picture of this fascinating woman as Janice Erickson Smith brings Patsy to life. (Watch this space for a profile of Janice Erickson Smith and her take on Patsy (Mrs. Washington).

How fortunate for us all that Colleen O’Brien “ran away to the circus”. Be sure to catch up with her in Eliza’s ballroom on Septmeber 8,9, 15 & 16 at 244 South 3rd St., Philadelphia.

For more information: www.livearts-fringe.org, “Eliza and Patsy”, Colleen O’Brien and Janice Erickson Smith. September 8,8,15 & 16, 2009 at 7pm and 9pm. Tickets: $10.00. Running time: 60 minutes. Tickets. At door: first come, first serve. Philly Fringe Festival.