THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, April 29, 1996 TAG: 9604270054
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SHIRLEY BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 146 lines
STARR MATTON spends much of her time delving into the past. She's a living-history performer.
One recent day at the 17th century Adam Thoroughgood House in Virginia Beach, she stirred a stew for supper as she glanced out the window at a threatening sky.
She told visitors she was worried that, due to excessive rain, her husband's crop would bring a poor return this year. She told them that her husband was away on business, two of her three children were sick, neighbors were miles away, and she was lonely.
Matton was portraying Elizabeth Burwell, the fictional wife of a 17th century Virginia tobacco planter.
Matton is a walking history book who can easily portray homemakers of the past. She has learned that even though customs and fashions change, the cares and concerns of women remain very much the same.
A resident of Virginia Beach, Matton, 45, portrays five women of the past three centuries at historic sites in Hampton Roads. She works for both the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk, which operates the Thoroughgood House, and Riddick's Folly in Suffolk. Under the auspices of Old Dominion University, she also gives presentations to Elderhostel groups.
Although she enjoys the work, Matton has learned that assuming the identity of a 17th century housewife, for instance, demands more than a change of costume.
Since she converses directly with visitors, Matton's roles may be more demanding than that of a stage performer. Her audiences have the opportunity to quiz her about the authenticity of her dress, speech, and historical facts.
``People ask me questions and it can be very challenging,'' Matton said. ``I try to re-create as closely as possible, so I have to have a good overview of the time. . . .
``I believe I can spark an interest in the time that person lived. I'm constantly looking for further information to use.''
In order to develop a dialogue for her characters, Matton has done intensive research on the eras in which they lived. One resource is the dictionary, she said.
``It does contain a wealth of information. I have to use the proper words and know the time they were used or people will catch you up on it.''
In her various roles, Matton not only wears the appropriate dress and hair style, but alters her dialect as well.
``I collect accents,'' she said. ``I've studied some French and have had to acquire a slightly southern accent.''
A native of Hollis, N.Y., Matton (pronounced like baton) grew up in Granville, Ohio. She earned a bachelor's degree in liberal arts at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta and was involved in social work for a while.
Matton married and gave up her career to raise her two children, James, 22, and Anne, 18. After a move to Virginia Beach in 1985, she and her husband divorced.
``It was a tremendous learning experience,'' she said. ``I started life over and found that there is life after divorce.''
Six years ago, Matton volunteered to work at the Adam Thoroughgood House. Two months later, she was hired as a costumed interpreter and has been working ever since in outreach programs for schoolchildren. These include candle-dipping, herbal dyeing and demonstrations of cooking methods used during the 17th century.
At the Thoroughgood House, Matton adopts an English accent to impersonate Elizabeth Burwell. Or she assumes the role of Jane Westerfield, an indentured servant. According to records, Westerfield was brought from England to America and actually lived and worked at the Thoroughgood House.
On Bastille Day at the historic Moses Myers House in downtown Norfolk, another Chrysler Museum operation, Matton does an impersonation of Louise Seymour. She was an 18th century French womanwho married an Englishman and escaped from France during the French Revolution.
Matton wears a costume made from a pattern reproduced from an original dress owned by the Seymour Family.
``I've been told my French accent is believable,'' Matton said, smiling. ``I don't lapse into French because I know only very rudimentary phrases.''
The Chrysler Museum is the administrator for both the Adam Thoroughgood House and the Moses Myers House, which are owned by the city of Norfolk.
Matton said she has to be ``on her toes'' when she performs for Elderhostel groups twice monthly. Offered by colleges and universities throughout the country, Elderhostels are low-cost, short-term residential academic programs for senior citizens.
``These are older people and very knowledgable,'' she said. ``They have a good command of history and frequently ask me questions. I have to be able to `read' my audience. Some are very serious and some are there to be entertained. I try to teach and bring them into a different time.''
For the past three years, Matton has collaborated with Paula Hughes, the historic costumer for Chrysler's historic houses. Together, they have worked to create authentic period costumes.
``I've put incredible demands on her,'' Matton said, laughing, ``but she thrives on it. I have five costumes, but by changing ribbons, bows and petticoats, I can get eight. There is a lot of handwork involved, but the most challenging things she's ever made are corsets. A woman can't move unless they're made correctly.''
Corsets of Elizabeth Burwell's day were cylinder-shaped, made with steel bones, and tightly laced, Matton said. Those of the 18th century were even more uncomfortable.
``I gives me insight into how women felt,'' Matton said. ``A woman had to sit on the edge of her chair and couldn't slouch. I can understand why so many women fainted at that time.''
While working at the Chrysler Museum, Matton met Susan Vasoti Ward, who is currently the director of Riddick's Folly in Suffolk. Now a museum, the renovated 20-room house was built by Mills Riddick circa 1837.
Riddick's Greek Revival-style home was called a folly by locals of that time because of its size. Riddick, however, built the home for his large family of 14 children.
When a position for a part-time employee at Riddick's Folly became available recently, Matton was hired as the activities coordinator. From Tuesday through Friday, she works closely with Ward to develop programs and workshops, and to implement the newly developed school outreach program.
Matton also added two more women to her repertoire of characters. Posing as members of the Riddick Family, she portrays both the 19th century matron, Mary Taylor Riddick, and her daughter-in-law, Missouri Riddick. Missouri's husband, Nathaniel, inherited the family residence from his father.
To introduce the new outreach program, a book has been written for Riddick's Folly titled ``The Birthday Secret,'' which concerns Missouri Riddick's daughter, Anna Mary, who grew up in the mansion.
``A copy of the book will be sent to all third-grade teachers in Suffolk to read to their class,'' Matton said. ``There also will be an information packet with activities to get them interested in a trip to Riddick's Folly.''
If she could choose any other job, Matton said, it would be that of director of interpretive programming in Colonial Williamsburg.
``I love to bring characters to life from the past,'' she said. ``We have a lot in common with them.'' ILLUSTRATION: BETH BERGMAN
The Virginian-Pilot
Starr Matton, a living-history performer, chats with John, left, and
Ralph Kinsley, who were visiting the Adam Thoroughgood House with
their wives.
BOOK CELEBRATION
A reception will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Sundayat Riddick's
Folly, 510 N. Main St. in Suffolk, to introduce the book ``The
Birthday Secret.''
Starr Matton will portray Missouri Riddick and Mary Katherine
Moore of Suffolk will protray the 10-year-old Anna Mary. They will
talk with visitors about birthday traditions of the mid-19th
century.
The authors, Jean Mauck and Ann Story Powell, as well as
illustrators, Penny H. Birdsong and Edward Lee King, will be on hand
to autograph copies of the book.
Call 934-1390 for more information.
by CNB