Ben, Daniel, and Sally live with their parents on a tobacco plantation in Kentucky and are held as slaves by the plantation owner. When their older brother, Tut, is sold by the plantation owner, the children's parents decide that the rest of the family should try to escape. During the escape, the three children get separated from their parents. They find their way into the Underground Railroad, the secret group of black and white people who help people who are slaves escape to the north and Canada. Click here to view the video of the children telling their story.
When the play begins, it is the middle of the night and the children have traveled far from Kentucky. George McCoy is bringing them to the farm of a family who lives in Ann Arbor. They are hidden in the cellar of the farm where they will spend a night and day before continuing on their way to try to reach their parents in Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Mason look after the children and feed them with the help of their son Horace. Ben was flogged by his slave master when he discovered that the children's parents had escaped. Click here to view the video of Mrs. Garret cleaning Ben's back. Horace, who is 12, is being allowed to help with fugitive slaves for the first time. View the video of their travel on the back of George McCoy's wagon, view the video of the slaves' arrival, or view the video of the Masons' conversation with Horace about their involvement in the Underground Railroad.
While the children are waiting for night to fall and are hiding in the cellar, Mr. and Mrs. Mason are visited by a nosey neighbor name Mr. Garrett who helps slave catchers. He is suspicious of the Masons and of their friendship with the black cigar maker, George McCoy. Acting like a friend, he tells them how much trouble people who help slaves will get into. Mr. and Mrs. Mason and Mr. McCoy feel they have to be polite to Mr. Garret although they are seething inside. The Garrett's had to ensure that they were ready for any persons who stopped by their house. To ensure that the slaves knew whether or not it was safe for them to emerge from their hiding places, the Garrett's implemented a three-knock system such that the slaves would return to their hiding places if they did not hear three knocks on the door. Click here to view the video of this scene.
Night falls
and Ben, Daniel, and Sally begin their preparations to leave the Mason
farm. As Mr. McCoy leads them up the cellar stairs to his awaiting wagon,
they are horrified to hear the voice of Mr. Garret who has returned to
the farm in the middle of the night. If they are caught, they will be
sent back to the plantation owner in Kentucky and will become slaves again.
The Masons will be fined and possibly sent to jail. They rush back to
their hiding place just before Garrett enters the cellar. Mr. and Mrs.
Mason and Mr. McCoy pretend they are doing work in the cellar while Garret
looks in every corner.
Click here to view the video of this scene. Suddenly, Sally runs out of their hiding place to
get her doll. Mr. Garrett sees all three children, and
it seems as if they are done for...but clever Mr. McCoy tricks Mr. Garrett
into believing that the
children are his own, just out on a work trip with him. So, Mr. Garrett
finally leaves the cellar, and the children are able to continue on their journey,
optimistic
that they will find their parents.
Click here to view the video of this scene.
The characters in Along the Tracks: Michigan and the Underground Railroad are listed below. The costumes for each character were were designed by Suzanne Young and are historically accurate representations of 19th century African American attire.
Mr. Mason: 32 year-old white man is one of the conductors on the Underground Railroad. He is the father of Horace Mason and the husband of Mrs. Mason. He lives on a farm in Ann Arbor, Michigan and uses a cellar in his barn to hide passengers on the Underground Railroad.
Mrs. Mason: 30 year-old white woman is the wife of Mr. Mason and mother of Horace Mason. She works with her husband to provide food and shelter to those who are escaping from slavery and are on their way to Canada on the Underground Railroad.
Horace Mason: 12 year-old white boy is the son of the Masons. Usually children aren't allowed to know anything about antislavery activities of their parents, especially anything to do with the Underground Railroad. Horace is being trusted for the first time to help his parents shelter three fugitive slaves.
Garrett: 40 year-old white man is a neighbor of the Masons who is a supporter of slavery. He is very nosy and suspicious of the Masons. He is interested in catching any escaping slaves and possibly turning in any helpers.
McCoy: 40 year-old black man is a conductor on the Underground Railroad. He is a freed slave who now resides in Ypsilanti and sells cigars for a living. He has brought Ben, Daniel, and Sally to the Masons using his cigar wagon which has a false bottom.
Ben: 14 year-old black boy is a runaway slave and brother to Daniel and Sally. He and his brother and sister are trying to find their parents who they hope have already escaped to Canada.
Daniel: 12 year-old black boy is a runaway slave and the brother of Ben and Sally.
Sally:
10 year-old black girl is the sister of Ben and Daniel. She doesn't talk
in the play because she is scared and traumatized by all that has happened
to her family in slavery.