'The Famous and Infamous' arrive in Ashland for Chautauqua program at the Band Shell

ASHLAND – Fortunately, Leslie Goddard, aka Lizzie Borden, was driving, not flying, from just outside Chicago for her appearance at Chautauqua.

Had she tried to board a plane, she may have been detained, she said, showing fellow performer Darrick Johnson, portraying Malcolm X, the hatchet prop she pulled out of her satchel.

"I don't know how I would have explained it to TSA," she said.

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Each of the five actors making up "The Famous and Infamous" history performances for this year's Chautauqua program that started Tuesday and runs through Saturday, July 16, at the Guy C. Myers Memorial Band Shell, gave a preview of their characters at Brookside Park on Monday evening.

Lizzie Borden and Mary Surratt

As the suspect in the brutal murder of her father and stepmother, Goddard, in character as Borden, said, "I dressed so carefully every day of that trial. They were expecting a monster, a Medusa."

Goddard said her choice to portray Borden was based on her fascination with her.

In researching Borden, Goddard said, "I was flabbergasted when I found out she was acquitted."

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Dianne Moran as Mary Surratt, the first woman executed by the federal government, asked plaintively as she was put on trial, "What have I done that this should become my life now?"

Explaining during a question and answer period how she could emotionally take on the persona of Surratt, Moran said, "You could ask each one of us what we draw from — something in our lives," something the character elicits. "It's part of us."

Moran offered her opinion on whether Surratt was complicit in the plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln.

"She had to know." But, "I wanted her to be innocent," she said.

Marie Curie, Malcolm X and Annie Oakley

Susan Marie Frontczak as Marie Curie, Johnson as Malcolm X and Elsa Wolff as Annie Oakley were equally convincing in their costume, mannerisms and speech as the historical figures they became in their sample performance.

Wolff reflected Oakley's hardship, joy and humor.

"When things get put in print about me," she said as Oakley, "I prefer they be true."

The first book Johnson was ever motivated to read when he was young was about Malcolm X.

"My mother kept that book," he said.

Making his performance even more convincing is what people have told him is his striking physical similarity to Malcolm X.

Asked about her authentic accent by Johnson, Frontczak said on her father's side, her lineage is Polish.

Living history performances are 8 p.m. through Saturday at the Band Shell

The living history actors are featured on successive nights of Chautauqua at 8 p.m. at the Band Shell

• An Evening with Lizzie Borden was Tuesday

• Malcolm X, Wednesday

• Mary Surratt, Thursday

• Marie Curie, Friday

• Annie Oakley, Saturday.

Their opening acts, set up by the coordinator of the Band Shell, perform at 7 p.m.

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"Every year we try to pick some different kind of theme," said Chautauqua committee member Deleasa Randall-Griffiths.

The original title for this year's event was Heroes and Villains, she said; but as the committee put together the talent for the show, the modified title seemed more appropriate.

Three of the guests — Wolff, Frontczak and Moran — performed previously at Ashland Chautauqua as different historical figures.

Goddard and Johnson are new to the lineup.

Committee member Dorothy Stratton described Chautauqua as "intellectually stimulating and entertaining."

All of the people portrayed are well-known, said Barb Slabaugh, another member of the committee. "It's a chance to experience people from the past."

"Each of these scholars has led a virtual book discussion," Stratton said, with 18-35 people attending them on Zoom.

They were held throughout the fall, committee member Starr Dobush said.

The week's Chautauqua schedule includes coffee with the scholars and workshops.

Ashland Chautauqua is funded by a variety of sponsors and committee members are volunteers.

A full schedule of events is available at AshlandChautauqua.org.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Ashland Chautauqua history performances feature Famous and Infamous