SHERMAN — President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865, leaving his widow, Mary Todd Lincoln, to raise their three sons. Over the course of the following years two of those sons also died, leaving Mary Todd with her eldest son, Robert, as her eventual caretaker.

History books and various other forms of media have portrayed Mary Todd as “crazy,” when in fact what we know now is she likely suffered from depression and bipolar disorder. Mary Todd’s final years and relationship with not only her son Robert, but also her seamstress and friend Elizabeth Keckley, are the basis for the new play Restored to Reason. Written by local playwright Elizabeth Young, Restored to Reason is in production at The Sherman Playhouse under the direction of Jane Farnol.

Much of what we know now about this time in Mary Todd’s life is due to a book written by Keckley entitled Behind the Scenes, or Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House. It explores her relationship with Mary Todd through personal anecdotes and letters.

In Restored to Reason, audiences get snippets of that relationship interspersed with Mary Todd’s fraught relationship with Robert in her final years. Robert loves his mother, but doctors are advising him to institutionalize her for her own good. We see his struggles and eventual regret over how he handles their advice. Elizabeth Young’s script is a fascinating exploration of this dynamic.

The script is brought to vibrant life by three actors — Morgana Kate Watson as Mary Todd Lincoln, Matt Pagliaro as Robert Lincoln, and Loretta Fedrick as Elizabeth Keckley.

Watson brings a wonderful balanced nuance to Mary Todd Lincoln. She makes some wonderful and strong acting choices that, in the hands of a lesser actress, could have been a risk. Not here. Watson really knocks it out of the park and brings Mary Todd Lincoln to life. The audience very much sympathizes with her, and begins to realize maybe all she wants is to be heard and loved.

Pagliaro also brings a powerful yet heartbreaking portrayal of Robert Lincoln to this production. All Robert wants is good for his mother, but he is finding it incredibly difficult to balance his life with some of the erratic behavior she is displaying. Pagliaro and Watson have wonderful chemistry, which makes the relationship believable and, at times, tragic.

Fedrick brings to life Elizabeth Keckley, Mary Todd’s friend and confidant. Much adulation must be given to Fedrick, as she is given some of the biggest monologues in the show in the form of Keckley’s real life letters. Fedrick gives a compelling and robust performance as the staunch defender of Mary Todd.

A few of the crew also pull double duty in this production. Tech Designer Al Chiapetta, Stage Manager Ron Malyska, and Producer Tom Heydenburg also provide voiceovers throughout the show.

Director Jane Farnol does a wonderful job letting the script and acting speak for themselves. The simple set consisting of a couch, a chair, and a desk forces the audience to really listen to Young’s engaging script.

Kudos to costume designer Gillian Desjardins. Her perfect period accurate costumes tell a story of their own.

This is a fascinating piece of theater whether or not one is a history buff. The quick two-week run concludes July 26 and it is worth the drive to Sherman to catch a performance. One will be glad they did.

Tickets and more information can be found at shermanplayers.org.