Ben Butler

Inspired by true events, Ben Butler is a Civil War tale packed with surprising humor and wit. When a runaway slave arrives at Fort Monroe demanding sanctuary he forces the newly installed (and unconventional) General Benjamin Butler to face an impossible moral dilemma: follow the law or alter the course of U.S. history. Part satire, part comedy of manners, this laugh-out-loud “battle of wits” tells the true story of how a legal loophole helped win the Civil War. Richard Strand’s play is smartly written taking a humorous look at a pivotal moment in history. At its core, it’s a situational comedy that pokes fun at the societal norms of the day. Characters often engage each other with hysterical irony creating a brilliant comedic setting for Ben Butler’s dramatic plot to unfold.