Tales of Barcroft
Our neighborhood celebrated its 100th birthday in May of 2003 with an original stage play titled Tales of Barcroft
The play was about early Barcrofters, featuring many characters from Barcroft's past. Interspersed with their vignettes were traditional tunes of the period.
Dr. John Barcroft
For whom the neighborhood was named
Played by Phil Cackley
Song: Home Sweet Home
Frank Corbett
Owner of the property before it was called Barcroft
Played by Phillip Twomey
Song: Farther Along
Stephen Preston Wright
Real estate developer
Played by Dan Junker
Lula Fox Wright
Stephen's wife
Played by Maureen Locke
Song: Let Me Call You Sweetheart
Oscar Haring
Owner of the country store
Played by Phil Cackley
Eddie Haring
Young man around Barcroft
Played by Danny Cackley
Song: Seeing Nellie Home
Tommy Foley
The Haring's delivery boy
Played by Steve Wilson
Song: Hard Times Come Again No More
Annie Doremus Marye
Wife of Sidney, mother of Adaline
Played by Sera Junker
Sidney Marye
Father and creator of the 1903 Barcroft News
Played by Dan Junker
Song
Adaline Marye Robertson
Child of Barcroft, born here and still with us after 100 years!
Read all about "the baby at the Marye's" in the 1903 Barcroft News
Played by Ana Cackley
Song
Louise Bridges Payne
Sufragette who staged protest parades in DC
Played by Cecilia Cackley
Song: Happy Birthday to Barcroft
The Moderator
Opens and provides the narrative thread of the play
Played by Carl Modig
The tunes were sung by Alicia Cackley and played by a band consisting of Kathy Kerr on fiddle, Maureen Locke on guitar, Michael Nazaretz on accordion and Steve Wilson on flute and penny whistle.
Barbara Swart wrote and produced the play.
Randy Swart was Best Boy.
Maggie Modig designed the set.
The Stage crew consisted Kelly Hendrickson and Sera Ellis as lighting designers and Randy Swart as Lighting Manager. Tickets and sales were handled by Pat and Daniel Williamson Edwards.
Kitchen stalwarts who fed the multitudes included Teresa Saunders, Sally Breeden, Veronica Moreno, Kathy Moreno and Marlene Oronao.
Photos above mostly by Phil Cackley. Video by Jim Kerr.
The play was presented in two well-received performances on May 16 and 17, 2003. Then we presented it again on July 19th for Adaline Marye Robertson and her family at the Hermitage, where she now lives, during her family's celebration of her 100th birthday on July 20th. Here are some photos from that performance, taken by Polly Swerdlin.
Adaline was in the front row this time!
Oscar Haring, store owner, holding forth.
Ana Cackley as Adaline, circa 1912.
And the lady herself, July 19, 2003.
The following day she became 100 years old!
Happy Birthday, Barcroft!! Happy Birthday, Adaline!!