History at Play presents “Cato and Dolly”

$30 per person includes performance, discussion, reception and exhibit opening

Travel through the threshold of the Hancock House, Gov. John Hancock’s 18th Century Beacon Hill home, into never-before-seen drama. Cato & Dolly reveals life in the Governor’s mansion through the experiences of those who lived there: Dolly Quincy Hancock, a Boston Brahmin, and First Lady of Massachusetts and Cato, an enslaved person of color in the Hancock household. Cato & Dolly breathes life into their legacies, as well as other Revolutionary-era figures whose lives intersect at the famous Hancock House over the course of 50 years (1764-1816). The performance features influential and often forgotten figures, as they live through late- Colonial America’s most pivotal events, giving new perspective to an American narrative.

Enjoy an afternoon full of entertainment as your ticket includes the performance of Cato and Dolly, PLUS Post-Performance Talkback discussion followed by a reception and the opening of our new exhibit, “Researching Slavery:  Uncovering Complicated Colonial Narratives.”

A new American play Cato and Dolly by playwright and novelist Patrick Gabridge. Gabridge has been sharing stories for more than 30 years.
His plays have been produced across the country including The Mount Auburn Plays, Mox Nox, Blood on the Snow, Distant Neighbors, and more. Cato & Dolly was commissioned in 2018 for The Bostonian Society, as part of their Through the Keyhole exhibit.