HORSES OF ANGER

A dramatic presentation based on the epic poem, John Brown’s Body by

Stephen Vincent Benét

Performed at the Maskers Bassett Studio on October 16^th to 19^th 1974

Our play opens with an episode of the slave trade and is followed by a telling of John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry (October 16th) which was an attempt to free the slaves.  But slavery was not the main cause of the American Civil War.  The basic issue was states rights - the right of the Southern States to legislate for their own destiny. Lincoln and the North upheld the Union of the States; civil war was inevitable.

The story is told largely through the lives and loves of two young men, Jack Ellyat from the North and Clay Vingate from the South. It is a human story of human emotions, love, honour, fear and despair. Out of these years of anguish came a large number of songs which are still popular and.sung throughout the world. These songs pervade the play and reflect the spirit of the times.

Many thousands of men died in this great conflict, but out of the ashes of war arose a great nation - the United States of America.

The Players and Chorus

For The Maskers