Events

The Biddeford Historical Society hosted the production of Liberty Defended by David A. DeTurk at the First Parish Meetinghouse, September 16 & 17, 2023

The Biddeford Historical Society by special arrangement with City Theater is thrilled to present for one weekend only Liberty Defended: An Answer to Great Britain, 1774. This exciting dramatization of the Town Hall meeting that plunged Biddeford into the American Revolution is an original work by local playwright, David A. De Turk (with additional historical revision by Jack Fossett), and is based on the actual events and real people who were part of that decision.

Meet Jeremiah Hill, his wife, Sarah, and their children, Jamie and Mary. Jeremiah is a hot-headed Patriot, who is sick of being manipulated by the British Parliament. His young son, Jamie, is fast following in his father's footsteps.

On the other side of the aisle is Loyalist, George Goldthwaite, who argues red-faced against supporting the rebels – in part because of his loyalty to the King as an Englishman, but also because his job depends on it.

These characters, and others, hash it out in a riveting town meeting.

Producer and Director, Mark Nahorney, have assembled an incredibly talented cast of local actors, including Jack Fossett in the role of Jeremiah Hill; Lydia Lorentz as Jeremiah's wife, Rebecca; Annabelle Fossett as Jamie and Aurelia Lindsey and Celeste Fassett, as Hill children; and Steve Jones playing George Goldthwaite with the support of Valerie Nahorney as his wife, Elizabeth Goldthwaite. The Town Hall Meeting is brought to life by Irene Lemay as the Town Clerk, Rishworth Jordan; Jeff Newick as Dr. Aaron Porter; Jeff Cabral as meeting moderator, James Sullivan; Jessica Peck as Reverend Moses Morrill; Jack Fossett as Captain Benjamin Hooper; Coly Hatt as Deacon Wingate and Sharon Roberts as a rabble-rouser, the Widow Jenkins. Portraying the British Parliament are Mark Nahorney, as the dissenter, and Carol Jones, as the supporter.

Join us for a unique immersion experience in which the audience becomes part of this historic Town Hall Meeting, and learns what it means to contemplate going to war when war is not a choice, but it could be the only option. As James Sullivan so aptly proclaims: Ubi liberatas … ibi patrias. Where liberty is … there is my country! The play runs for two days and will be performed in the Old Meeting House building on Old Meeting House Road, the same place the original meeting was held 249 years ago.

The show opens on Saturday, September 16 at 1:00 PM with a second matinee on Sunday, September 17 at 1:00 PM. Suggested donation is $10.00.

For more information, please contact Paul McDonough at 207-450-9343.

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