THE LINCOLN DEBATE

What I liked

Terry Ray’s very witty and well-researched play gathers together a cast of “questionable” talents to present Abraham Lincoln’s life and his very close relationships with men. The actors portraying these “questionable” talents are all very funny and very talented people. Jason Reale makes a great Lincoln, not only because of his notable tall and bearded physical resemblances, but also because of his humor and humility that Lincoln was known for. Angela Landis is a very funny, spunky, bratty Mary Todd, who gets to show a quieter and touching side as the play draws toward its conclusion. Alex Price is very charming and funny as Lincoln‘s suspected long time boyfriend. He bounces around the stage like a happy puppy dog. Kimleigh Smith is hilarious and extremely versatile in all of the charactersshe ably jumps in and out of. Terry Ray not only wrote the show, but also makes for a very fun and snappy host for the evening. Under the expert direction of Steve Rosenbaum, all of the high jinx and hilarity is presentinto a tight and fast paced 80 minutes. I was breathless throughout due to the high energy of this talented ensemble. The fun they all seem to be having was infectious and I was smiling throughout.

What I didn't like

I felt it could be either a little longer with an intermission, or a little shorter. But I believe this is an edited version in order to stay within the confines and parameters of the festival. It is so high energy that a pause would’ve been welcomed just so I could catch my breath.

My overall impression

Don’t be fooled by its title. This isn’t a stodgy, boring history lecture, but instead a fun, high-spirited romp that presents documented facts and lets the audience decide for itself what to make of Abraham Lincoln’s sexuality.