Dramatizing the lives of servants in a Victorian era household, Tames Alan will perform her play, In Service: Life Downstairs, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 15 at the Olympia Timberland Library, and again at 7 p.m. Thursday, September 16 at the McCleary Timberland Library. Alan is an actress, historian, and fashion history teacher and will be costumed in authentic period clothing. The presentations are free of charge, sponsored by the libraries’ Friends of the Library groups.

In the late 19^th century, 50 percent of England’s population was "in service." Alan (pictured left) shows how this unseen half lived. She reveals the rules servants lived by, the complicated hierarchy between upper and lower servants, their varied duties, and the mixed blessing of the half-day off. She also gives a lively account of the high jinks that lightened long hours of drudgery.

This Humanities Washington Inquiring Mind presentation is designed to be a fun cultural event for general audiences, students of all ages, and lovers of history and clothing.

For more information, contact the Olympia Timberland Library: 313 8th Avenue SE, Olympia, (360) 352-0595; or the McCleary Timberland Library: 121 S 4^th Street, McCleary, (360)495-3368.

Timberland Regional Library serves the information, reading and lifelong learning needs of the Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston county public at 27 community libraries and 4 school-based cooperative library centers. The library system is funded by local property taxes. Anyone needing special accommodations to participate in a library’s program may contact the library 4 days in advance.