PORT TOWNSEND — Carol Swarbrick, a television actress now living in Sequim, will star Saturday night in the lead and only role of “Miss Lillian Speaks.”
In the production, Swarbrick portrays Lillian Carter — mother of President Jimmy Carter — and talks to the audience “directly, honestly and humorously” about her life, organizers say.
Swarbrick will follow the show with a question-and-answer session concerning Lillian.
The performance will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Key City Public Theatre, 419 Washington St.
Tickets are $15 and are available online at www.keycitypublictheatre.org or at the playhouse box office, 419 Washington St.
Swarbrick has acted on Broadway and been in numerous television series including “Columbo,” “Night Court,” “Murder, She Wrote” and “The Incredible Hulk.”
Despite her appearances on the national stage, Swarbrick calls “Miss Lillian Speaks” the high point of her career.
Featured in KCPT’s 2014 PlayFest while in development, this is the final local performance of “Miss Lillian Speaks” before its Feb. 13 national debut at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library in Independence, Mo.
Swarbrick began studying Lillian about five years ago.
The journey started with the reading of Jimmy Carter’s book A Remarkable Mother.
Early on, Swarbrick learned that Lillian, at age 68, joined the Peace Corps and celebrated her 70th birthday while serving in India.
She also learned about Lillian’s life as the mother of children Jimmy, Ruth, Gloria and Billy, whom she raised with husband Earl Carter by her side.
She was a Georgia peanut farmer who enjoyed some earthy humor and salty language, organizers say.
Swarbrick worked with director James Rocco, writer Jeff Scott and husband Jim Dries — a writer, actor and former Peace Corps volunteer — to develop “Miss Lillian Speaks.”
Swarbrick recorded a DVD of an early performance of the production and sent it to the Carter Center, the international human rights and public health organization in Atlanta.
The video found its way to Jimmy Carter himself.
The 39th president, along with his wife, Rosalynn, enjoyed Swarbrick’s portrayal enough to invite her to Plains, Ga., where they gave her a tour of the Pond House, Lillian’s refuge at the Carter family property.
As “Miss Lillian Speaks” continued to take shape, Swarbrick and Dries were invited back for more visits, which included more conversations about Lillian.
For more information, call 360-385-5278.
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Reporter Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
