←Recommendations of The Life of Martha Jefferson

A play that speeds through the years, taking the audience on a journey through a monumental time, from a perspective that's seldom given its full consideration, important though it is. The short scenes and quick but meaningful jumps from one moment to the next give the sense of a vast span of time, so it's not until the end that we fully see just how short a life we're really seeing. The injustice and shame that are intrinsic to American history are not hidden from us, but rather made compellingly human through the dialogue.

As a non-American, this play took me twice as long to read as it should because I kept having to pause to check historical details, and I can truly say I've learned so much by reading it. In Lisa's usual style, this play is conversational, quippy, and jocular, but still holds a great sense of gravity and respect for its subject matter. Martha Jefferson is celebrated for the sacrifices she made for her notorious husband, and is touchingly elevated to show that it was all worth something. A wonderful historical fiction that breathes real life into its subjects.

This play is hands down the best historical fiction play I've ever read. Lisa is able to find the essence of famous figures in a way that is true to who they were and relatable to a contemporary audience. Highlighting the fact that women are often forgotten in matters of history, this play is a beautiful exploration of the woman behind the man: it is poignant, captivating, and often laugh out loud funny.

This play encompasses a huge, turbulant period of American history while maintaining a laser-like focus on one woman's life. Told in staccato-short scenes the play keeps up excellent momentum as the characters hurtle towards their well-known historical conclusions. Feriend brings life to the pages of American history and voice to figures that tradionally have been side-lined or silenced all together. I especially loved reading the dialogue between Martha and Betty Hemings- Feriend did a wonderful job imagining how these two women saw each other and themselves and bringing that to life.