Selena Milewski
April 12, 2016
Shepherd Express
UW-Milwaukee Theatre Department’s latest offering, Orphan Train, passionately communicated a slice of American history grossly underrepresented in standard curriculum and common knowledge. From 1853-1929 the Orphan Train Movement (known at the time as “Free Adoption”) transported 500,000 destitute children from New York City to various locations in the Midwest. There they were “adopted out” into indentured slavery with zero background checks for adopters. Although some fortuitously ended up in loving homes that furnished food, shelter and education, the majority did not. Horrifying cases of abuse and even murder are recounted here, alongside the stories of perseverance and love.
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