Sarah Jones
Dr. Harriet Alleyne Rice
How did it feel to inhabit/embody/become this character (who was, of course a real person)?
Incredible and cathartic. Dr. Harriet Rice was a formidable and brilliant woman, who lived at a time that could not fully appreciate her talents, abilities, and contributions. It was a challenging and spiritual journey, as I learned of her frustrations and perseverance to thrive in any way possible as a medical doctor, when both her race and her gender worked against her. Her life was riddled with rejections by patients and medical institutions to practice medicine, and she experienced extreme hurdles to thrive, often not having the means to put food on her table. But she kept looking and finding a door that would open for her, as other options were closed to her, or refused to see her value. It was an absolute honor to get to know about her remarkable life and share her experiences with others through the play.
What did you learn from the person you played?
There is still so much to be learned about Dr. Harriet Rice: large gaps in her story, her mysterious injury at Wellesley (that plagued many years of her life with complications and surgeries), her friendships and relationships with non-family and family (notably her older brother Dr. George Rice).
Beyond a meeting with George in England, right before Harriet left to work in French hospitals at the beginning of WWI, no later knowledge of their contact exists. George lived to the age of 87, dying in 1935, predeceased by his wife of over 50 years, and at least one child, but survived by a daughter. Did Harriet meet George's wife, any of his children? Did Harriet have any other contact with her brother's family before her death in 1958?
The privilege of learning Harriet's story made me thirst to know more. And I searched in depth for trustworthy sources from Wellesley College, University of Michigan, Hull House, internet and library databases, and of course, Keith Stokes. The fact that only one detail about her life could be found between 1935 and her death in 1958 is stupefying. There was no way that she actually retired for these last 23 years of her life, as her whole life was rife with financial struggles, and she wanted to work and make a difference, to be of value.
Dr. Harriet Rice was an extreme inspiration for me, and a reminder of how much a person can overcome and achieve, regardless of overwhelming obstacles.
It was an honor and a pleasure to be part of this play, and to hopefully demonstrate Dr. Harriet Rice's value for those who would not otherwise to know her story. I must thank Rebecca Noon and all of the production staff, crew, and fellow actors, for the encouragement to delve into our characters, change lines, present new information, and make this journey truly finding out about the lives of the human beings being presented.
All photos by Dominique Sindayiganza @sindayiganza