"Mrs. Smith Goes to Washington" is back in Portland! Come and see the one-woman play starring Jackie Oliveri at the Footlights Theatre November 13-22. For more info, visit the link below.

https://www.thefootlightstheatre.com/footlights-theatre.html

RECENT REVIEW:

Do. Not. Miss. Margaret Chase Smith at Footlights Theatre! 

A Review by Christina Koomen.

You know the name. You recognize the face. Now meet the iconic woman who became a legend in Maine and national politics—now brought to vivid life at the Footlights Theatre in Falmouth. Mrs. Smith Goes to Washington, by Linda Britt, is a production that educates, inspires, and thoroughly entertains.

My 30-second synopsis: This bold and timely play stars Jackie Oliveri as Margaret Chase Smith, Maine’s trailblazing congresswoman and senator—the first woman elected to both the U.S. House and Senate. A proud Republican, a Skowhegan native, and a centrist who valued consensus over chaos, Smith made history as the first senator to speak out against Joe McCarthy and the first woman to be nominated for president. Her career was defined by integrity, courage, and unmistakable Maine grit.

Jackie Oliveri delivers a tour-de-force performance. Authentic and grounded, she captures the vocal and physical essence of Smith without slipping into caricature. Oliveri commands attention from start to finish. Having seen her in several roles—including her brilliant Ruth Bader Ginsburg—this performance ranks just as highly.

Under the smart direction of Michael J. Tobin, the production is enhanced by more than 200 images that allow the audience not only to hear about Smith’s extraordinary life, but to see it. The multimedia elements elevate the show and deepen the storytelling.

Technically, the production reflects Tobin’s signature attention to detail. The set evokes both class and comfort, and Oliveri’s Margaret Chase Smith is visually spot-on—from the trademark blue dress to the pearls and red rose. 

Mrs. Smith Goes to Washington is absolutely worth your time (80 minutes, no intermission) and your entertainment dollars. There’s plenty of free parking right outside the theater, and tickets are an affordable $25.

Mrs. Smith Goes to Washington runs through November 22 with performances Thursdays at 7:00 p.m., Fridays at 7:30 p.m., and Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

The Footlights Theatre is located at 190 US Route 1, Falmouth, ME. Box Office: (207) 747-5434. Walk-ins welcome. thefootlightstheatre.com