For nearly as long as George Washington was away from his beloved Mount Vernon Plantation in conducting and winning the Revolutionary War — and then serving as the nation's first Chief Executive — that's how long William Sommerfield has portrayed America's father.
Last Friday night, that era ended.
"The theme of this year's symposium, 'The Lion in Winter,' marks the time of a most feared retirement — that of William Sommerfield. He is internationally recognized as the foremost portrayer of George Washington," said James C. Rees, executive director, Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens.
Rees was introducing the final performance on a Mount Vernon stage of Sommerfield, who has portrayed Washington to millions throughout the world for the past 18 years. "He's written a brand new piece on Washington's retirement. And then, for the first time, he'll return to the stage as Bill Sommerfield, not George Washington, to reflect on his career," Rees explained to the more than 200 Mount Vernon patrons seated in the audience.
Sommerfield was first selected to portray George Washington in 1989 by Chief Justice Warren Berger, then serving as head of the Bicentennial Commission on the U.S. Constitution. Accomplishing that feat, Sommerfield beat out heavily favored Charlton Heston.
When he excitedly told his wife that he had secured the role and beat out Heston, she replied, "Of course. He looks too much like Moses," according to Sommerfield's recollections of that auspicious beginning.
Making his entrance as George Washington this final time, Sommerfield came from the back of the theater to the stage as if welcoming invited guests to the parlor in Mount Vernon's Mansion prior to dinner. He was home from his two term Presidency and reflective of his long career in public life.
As so succinctly stated by Rees in his introduction: "The year is 1799. The place is Mount Vernon. The man is George Washington."
Noting that his wife was "not too happy when I said I would run for the presidency," Washington admits, "It was truly my intention to return to Mount Vernon after my first term." For the next 30 minutes, Sommerfield, as Washington guides the audience through the reflections, concerns, hopes and disappointments of this "lion in winter."
BUT WHO IS THIS MAN who so convincingly, for nearly 20 years, portrayed America's greatest hero. Part of that answer came in the second 30 minutes, when, after George Washington exited, William Sommerfield re-entered.
"Would you believe that a man of my age (reportedly mid 70's) has spent 20 years of life being George Washington. It's been a most enjoyable time," he proclaimed as he regaled the audience with a myriad stories of what has happened to him over those two decades.
William Sommerfield and his English born wife, Pamela, established the American Historical Theatre as "The Royal Pickwickians," in Philadelphia in 1982. Ironically, it is located at 2008 Mt. Vernon St.
Upon graduation from the University of Wisconsin, Sommerfield became a vice president with Foresman Publishing House. However, when the publishing business turn cannibalistic and "began gobbling each other up" Sommerfield decided it was time for a change.
Pamela, who had trained in London was "a denizen of the theater," according to Sommerfield. Her strong desire to write and produce programs about the Victorian era was the genesis of their now very successful theater productions company.
The Royal Pickwickians was soon producing characters based on Philadelphia history such as William Penn, Benjamin Franklin, Betsy Ross and many others. This lead to writing and producing plays about famous Philadelphians. "In 1992, The Royal Pickwickians officially became The American Historical Theatre (AHT), a non-profit corporation devoted to the dissemination of history in an entertaining yet educational manner," according to their web page description.
Pamela was selected in 1987 to portray Quaker abolitionist and women's rights activist Lucretia Mott. That was followed in 1989 by William being selected as George Washington for the Bicentennial re-creation of Washington's journey from Mount Vernon to New York for the first president's inaugural.
Following those dual successes the Sommerfields developed the craft now known as "Living History." Since then they have developed an entire theatrical company of historical characters as well as writing hundreds of programs and plays focused on historical personalities and events.
For the role of George Washington Sommerfield originally spent three weeks at Mount Vernon to learn as much as he possibly could about Washington, his life and times, and his beloved Mount Vernon plantation. "I spent every morning riding around the plantation on horseback to get to know and feel it," he said.
After three oral examinations and 168 questions he had to answer as George Washington before a selection panel, he was chosen over Heston. However, the commencement of his role got off to not a rocky but rather dislodging start.
WITH 10,000 people gathered at Mount Vernon to see him off to New York's Federal Hall in a vintage carriage donated by the DuPonts to be inaugurated, the driver of the carriage locked the wheel on an iron post which promptly brought it to an unceremonious halt. That carriage was replaced by another and the seven day journey to the Big Apple commenced.
When they arrived in New York City they were greeted by a crowd of 30,000. "Following the ceremony at Federal Hall, even though there were two actual ex-presidents present, I suddenly realized I had really been sworn in as President," Sommerfield related to his Symposium audience with a gleam in his eye. "I really am President."
Since his selection as George Washington, Sommerfield has devoted his "full attention to a detailed study of Washington's life" including the writing of hundreds of programs and plays. He was the first interpreter ever permitted to appear as Washington at Mount Vernon. His successor, Dean Malissa, a member of the Sommerfields' AHT will be the second.
Today their company offers hundreds of well known historical characters, as well as scripts, plays and programs at venues nationwide. They also offer professional training for both actors and docents.
ALTHOUGH SOMMERFIELD will no longer be Mount Vernon's official George Washington, he is a long way from retiring from his profession. As the man he has so aptly portrayed, this "lion" is still roaring.
"My wife and I are planning to write two anecdotal books on my experiences portraying George Washington. Mine is going to be "My Life As George Washington" and her's will be entitled "I married George Washington," he said.
"In addition to those two books, I'll be serving as a consultant to Mount Vernon, training the new George Washington, doing a lot of writing for historical places nationwide, and advising other sites on living history performances," Sommerfield said.
"The Mount Vernon approach has proven very successful and other historic sites want to emulate it. We have developed 60 historical characters within our company that can play roles throughout the nation," he said.
AHT brings historical theater to the world; art centers, colleges, historic sites and museums, special events, celebrations, promotions and schools. "This is about education as well as theater," he said.
They also have five grown children, three of which are involved with theatrical productions. Their oldest daughter is a director of theatrical programs. One son is a chef who has a cooking show on television. And, their son Michael has a radio show in Annapolis entitled, "Voices of The Bay."
Following Sommerfield as Sommerfield, Rees and Mount Vernon Ladies' Association Regent, Gay Hart Gaines, presented Sommerfield with a bronze bust of Washington to commemorate his two decades as the "Father" of the nation.
Standing tall in his colonial attire, Sommerfield received his final standing ovation.