Brengle “Where did runaway slaves go once they reached the river’s edge on Indiana soil? Did they have to hide and, if so, why? Wasn’t Indiana free soil? How did they get out of the Southern Indiana area, and who helped them?” —from the preface to the book The Underground Railroad in Floyd County, Indiana

Aimed at middle-school audiences, the play is termed a “performance piece” by Brengle. “Much of the acting is presentational with characters speaking directly to the audience and each actor playing multiple roles,” she said. “Overall, the show points out the social and political conflict that existed in southern Indiana before the Civil War. It explains why black people risked their lives to cross the Ohio River into such a dangerous environment, and it includes a ‘play within a play’ showing an Underground Railroad worker guiding a black family to safety—across the river into New Albany and onto Salem by train.”

Local historian Pamela Peters, who has read the finished script, is thrilled with the adaptation of her book for the stage, especially because it makes the content of her book accessible to a younger audience. “The formative years are so important for shaping positive attitudes in children about those of different racial and cultural backgrounds and doing away with stereotypes,” she said. “Brengle’s drama addresses the fact that slaves themselves had to make the decision to break away. No one could do it for them; they took the risk and are the real heroes of the Underground Railroad story. The play will help young people understand that the will of the slave was not broken.”

Early last December, Brengle held auditions for the cast of 14 actors, seven of whom needed to be African American. Although previous acting experience was not required, she found it very difficult to find African-American male actors. “I wasn’t able to complete casting until the middle of January,” she said. But the show must and will go on, and Brengle is pleased with the raw talent and enthusiasm of the cast.

Brengle received a $1,000 grant from the Indiana Humanities Council for the production. The performance, which runs approximately one hour, has musical accompaniment by David Emory, a musician from Louisville, who plays guitar, harmonica and drum.

Three public performances of The Underground Railroad in Floyd County are scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, and Saturday, March 6; and at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 14, at the Second Baptist Church, at the corner of First and Main streets in New Albany. Tickets will be sold at the door on the day of the performances. Other performances will take place at area middle schools. For more information, contact Ken Atkins at the IUS Theater Office at 812-941-2655.