PORTLAND, Maine — Portland Stage is kicking off a new season with a one-woman play about Eleanor Roosevelt, the trailblazing first lady and human rights advocate who, in three decades at the forefront of public life, was both revered and reviled.

Kandis Chappell plays Eleanor. She said the biggest challenge for her as she settled into the role was nailing Eleanor's unusual voice, which one observer described as "the speech of the East Coast aristocracy, a small group of elites from powerful old-money families."

"Her voice was so distinctive," Chappell said. "And I couldn’t copy it."

Doing an impression of a real-life person is something actors shy away from on stage. Their aim isn't to imitate, but to capture the essence of the personality.

"I got my voice, my accent, as close as I c

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