THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 2, 1996 TAG: 9605020124
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY SHIRLEY BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 120 lines
STARR MATTON'S ROOTS reach to Suffolk's earliest days.
Make that the roots of the women she portrays as residents of Riddick's Folly on Main Street.
Matton, a living history performer, impersonates the 19th century matron, Mary Taylor Riddick; or her daughter-in-law, Missouri Riddick, for Sunday afternoon programs.
Missouri's husband, Nathaniel, inherited the residence from his father, Mills Riddick, who built the home in 1837, for his family of 14 children. The renovated 20-room house, now a museum, was called a folly by locals of that time because of its size.
As Missouri Riddick, Matton frequently presides over Sunday Tea in a dressing gown and talks with visitors about ``current events.'' For more elegant affairs, she wears a dark blue ballgown with black trim.
``When visitors arrive, I'm already in character, and they know they're going to meet someone from the past,'' she said. ``At the moment, it may be April, 1850. And if I'm asked about the Civil War, I won't know about that.''
Matton also alters her dialect. ``For the Riddick women, I've had to acquire a Suffolk accent, which is slightly southern,'' she said.
Matton added the 19th century Riddick women to her repertoire when she was hired recently as activities coordinator at Riddick's Folly.
Tuesdays through Fridays, she will work closely with director Susan Vasoti Ward to develop programs and workshops, and to implement a newly developed school outreach program.
``As a living history performer on the weekends, I'm hoping to really incorporate hands-on programs for the community and some that have not been done in this area,'' Matton said. ``I know certain things I'm going to discuss, depending on who my audience is. There will be talk of fashions, new babies, deaths during the child-bearing years . . . the concerns of women of the 19th century.''
Since 1992, Matton has been employed part time as a living history performer at the historic Adam Thoroughgood House in Virginia Beach and the Moses Myers House in Norfolk.
Under auspices of Old Dominion University, she also gives presentations to Elderhostel groups - low-cost, short-term residential academic programs for senior citizens.
Although she enjoys the work, Matton has learned that assuming the identity of a 19th century housewife, for instance, demands more than a change of costume.
Since she converses directly with visitors, Matton's audiences may quiz her about the authenticity of her dress, speech and historical facts.
``I try to re-create as closely as possible,'' she said, ``so I have to have a good overview of the time. If done correctly, I believe I can spark an interest in the time that person lived.''
Matton has done intensive research on the era in which each woman she portrays lived. She is an avid reader and history buff, and a favorite pastime is to visit her favorite bookstore, purchase a cappucino, and curl up in a chair with a historical novel.
A native of Hollis, N.Y., Matton (pronounced like baton) grew up in Granville, Ohio. She earned a bachelor's degree in liberal arts at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta and was involved in social work for awhile.
Matton married and gave up her career to raise her two children, James, 22, and Anne, 18. After a move to Virginia Beach in 1985, she and her husband were divorced.
``It was a tremendous learning experience,'' she said. ``I started life over and found that there is life after divorce.''
Two months after Matton volunteered to work at the 17th century Adam Thoroughgood House, she was hired to work as a costumed interpreter by the Chrysler Museum, administrator of both the Thoroughgood House and the Moses Myers House. She has been working ever since in outreach programs for school children. These include candle-dipping, herbal dyeing and a ``Bread and Butter Program,'' which demonstrates cooking methods used during the 17th century.
For the past three years, Matton has collaborated with Paula Hughes, the historic costumer for Chrysler's historic houses. Together, they have worked to create authentic period costumes.
``I have five costumes, but by changing ribbons, bows and petticoats, I can get eight,'' Matton said. There is a lot of handwork involved, but the most challenging things she's ever made are corsets. A woman can't move unless they're made correctly. It gives me insight into how women felt. A woman had to sit on the edge of her chair and couldn't slouch. I can understand why so many women fainted at that time.''
In her spare time, Matton becomes absorbed in creating reproduction needlework patterned after antique samplers.
If she could choose any other job, Matton said it would be that of director of interpretive programming in Colonial Williamsburg.
``I love to bring characters to life from the past,'' she said. ``We have a lot in common with them.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Cover, Color photo]
Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Starr Matton portrays 19th century matron, Mary Taylor Riddick or
her daughter-in-law, Missouri Riddick, for Sunday programs.
Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Starr Matton impersonates the 19th century matron, Mary Taylor
Riddick; or her daughter-in-law, Missouri Riddick.
AT A GLANCE
``The Birthday Secret,'' a book written for Riddick's Folly,
concerns Anna Mary Riddick, who grew up in the Suffolk mansion.
Sunday, from 3 to 5 p.m., Mary Katherine Moore of Suffolk will
portray the 10-year-old girl. Starr Matton will take the role of
Missouri Taylor Riddick, and both will talk with visitors about
birthday traditions of the mid-19th century.
Authors Jean Mauck and Ann Story Powell, and illustrators Penny
H. Birdsong and Edward Lee King, will autograph books.
Visitors may tour the new children's bedchamber, which includes a
hands-on exhibit of antique toys.
Children are to be accompanied by an adult.
Riddick's Folly is at 510 N. Main St., Suffolk.
by CNB