“We tried to find interesting people with enough history to research and give a good body to the monologues,” said co-writer Paul Fourshee. “It’s a difficult thing, when you consider that some characters like Romane Bilbrey died when he was barely 17. That’s hardly enough life to have a history.”
Fourshee added that some of the real-life characters did live long and exciting lives, with ample research material and anecdote to draw upon. “Some of their stories are not printable,” he laughed. “Henry Burnett lived his entire life in Trigg County. I never realized just how involved he was on a national scale with something as monumental as the Confederacy, and helped to decide what side Trigg County would fight on.”
One of his fellow scriptwriters, and director of the show Portia Ezell said, “We looked around the community to find some talented and resourceful people to play these parts.”
“It was interesting to develop the character of Ella Hendrix George,” said Fourshee. “Having an African American role was difficult for us to find information on, but we felt it was important to do so. There are a large number of black people buried in the East End Cemetery that have gone unrecognized.”
Get to know the Dearly Departed by reading The Cadiz Record.
