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An Audience with Abraham Lincoln

 
Richard Beck Review by Richard Beck 2 Published: 8 Jun 2026 Greenwich Theatre Show Dates: 2 Jun 2026-5 Jun 2026

The UK première of An Audience with Abraham Lincoln, at Greenwich Theatre, also marks solo performer Jacob Truax’s first professional engagement in this country.

More of a costumed lecture delivered in the first person rather than a piece of theatre

Truax is an award-winning Lincoln interpreter recognised for his rigorous historical research and his detailed knowledge of the 16th President’s life. This is evidenced throughout the play with references to the minutiae of ‘Honest Abe’s’ early life, the positions he held, his rise from humble rural beginnings and the career-changing encounters that led him to becoming a lawyer and politician.

A front-of-house announcement before the performance explained that he would have to take a break before the end of his seventy-five-minute monologue in order to accommodate the interval of the main-house show, which would create disruptive noise in the adjacent bar. This seemed to be something of a programming error on the part of the theatre that broke the continuity of the storyline and disrupted his flow, and it took him a while to regain his concentration thereafter.

Lincoln was known for his own storytelling and for relating anecdotes in order to make political and moral points. We hear several of these, some of which were clearly meant to be humorous, but for the most part managed to raise no more than a smile or a chuckle. In comedic terms, they largely fell flat.

Increasingly, the performance became more of a costumed lecture delivered in the first person rather than a piece of theatre, the narrative being delivered in an almost uniformly soft voice, even when reciting some of the anticipated great speeches. These featured Lincoln’s Lecture on Law, the House Divided speech, the Second Inaugural Address and the famous Gettysburg Address. It was often hard to distinguish where these began and ended in vocal terms.

The narrative moved chronologically, but little possessed any rousing tension or excitement, such as might come from reading Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Team of Rivals. Lincoln’s genius in navigating the complexities of assembling his first post-election cabinet is barely an issue. Some tragedies of his private life are related, but his love for his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, seems underplayed. Obviously, the tragedy of his assassination is also missing, as this is an encounter with the living man.

The ponderous historical narrative is not helped by the lack of movement direction, which consists of just a couple of steps back and forth between a seat and table. Meanwhile, the fixed lighting often leaves Truax half lit or in shadow.

An Audience with Abraham Lincoln ends up as a drawn-out talk about one of the most important US presidents of all time that fails to ignite any enthusiasm or sympathy for him and that needs substantial editorial and directorial input for it to have impact as a solo show.

Amir Nisi

Richard Beck

A graduate in theology and education, Richard acted and contributed to dance, drama and music productions throughout his teaching career. He joined Broadway Baby in 2014 and is now our Editor-in-Chief. He usually disappears to warmer climes for the winter to pursue his passion for travel.

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The Blurb:

With anecdotes both heart-warming and heart-rending, Abraham Lincoln relates his life story, from his early hardscrabble childhood through his eventual marriage, family, and the successful law and legislative careers that vaulted him into the presidency. 

Along the way, hear speeches such as Lincoln’s Lecture on Law, the House Divided speech, or the Second Inaugural Address, along with the show’s finale, The Gettysburg Address in a seventy-five-minute show that is entertaining, educational, humorous, and poignant. 

An Evening with Abraham Lincoln will leave you with a new sense of the humor, compassion, and statesmanship of the sixteenth president of the United States.The Hermitage was honored to host Jacob Truax for An Evening with Abraham Lincoln, and his performance was nothing short of exceptional. Jacob’s portrayal was both engaging and historically accurate, bringing the 16th President to life in a way that captivated our audience from start to finish. His command of Lincoln’s voice, mannerisms, and storytelling created an immersive experience that was educational, moving, and memorable. Audience members left with not only a deeper appreciation for Abraham Lincoln’s life and leadership but also a sense of connection to history that few performances can achieve. 

Jacob’s dedication to authenticity and his ability to engage audiences of all ages make him a perfect fit for our mission to deliver meaningful, history-rich experiences.

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