Meet Laura Ingalls Wilder - Melanie Stringer
Melanie Stringer, acclaimed Laura Ingalls Wilder portrayer, presents in costume and persona an interactive program about Laura Ingalls Wilder as a young mother in the mid 1890s. She brings an extensive display of relevant artifacts as well as other hands on items to share with the audience. Research based, factual information about Laura, Almanzo and their daughter, Rose, will be provided. There will be an opportunity to ask questions of Mrs. Wilder and answers will be given in period-correct manner.
1510 participated
Attendees will learn about many aspects of Laura and most importantly many myths that have circulated about her and the Ingalls family will be debunked. The importance of discerning the differences between the popular television shows, Laura's fiction books and the true biographical facts about them will be emphasized. Participant evaluations and anecdotal responses will be collected.
Melanie Stringer's presentations were remarkable in scope and depth. The performer adopted the persona of Laura Ingalls Wilder entirely from the moment she entered the room until, as she remarked, she took off her hat. Only then did she address the audiences in her own voice. Consisting mainly of question and answer time, Stringer's program carried folks back to the 1800s with the performance to the delight of those in attendance. The extensive collection of artifacts that were shared were of museum quality. It is clearly evident that Stringer is the number one expert on all things Laura Ingalls Wilder and the citizens of Southwest Minnesota, where Wilder lived grew up, were fortunate to host her.
Refreshments provided by hosting libraries.