Dramatizing the lives of servants in a Victorian era household, Tames Alan will present her one-woman performance, In Service: Life Downstairs, at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, October 13 at the Oakville Timberland Library. Alan is an actress, historian, and fashion history teacher. She will be costumed in authentic, detailed period clothing. The presentation is free of charge and suited to an upper elementary-school to adult audience.

In the late 19^th century, 50 percent of England’s population was "in service." Alan (pictured left) shows how this invisible 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 for general audiences as well as lovers of history and fashion. Alan will answer questions after her performance.

For more information, contact the Oakville Timberland Library at (360) 273-5305. The library is located at 204 Main Street, Oakville.

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 5 cooperative library centers. The library system is funded by local property taxes. For information on any subject, people can telephone Timberland’s Central Reference Service librarians toll-free at 1-800-562-6022. Or they can "Ask a Librarian" online at www.trlib.org. TTY users, contact the library at 1-800-603-6104. Anyone needing special accommodations to participate in a library’s program can contact the library 4 days in advance.