City Theater actors are partnering with the Biddeford Historical Society to present ‘Liberty Defended’ this weekend at the First Parish Meeting House in Biddeford. From left are actors Sally McGrath, Jeff Cabral, Mark Nahorney and Valerie Nahorney. ED PIERCE/Journal Tribune
BIDDEFORD — Following in the footsteps of colonialists, City Theater will team up with the Biddeford Historical Society to reenact Biddeford’s debate about joining the American Revolution this weekend at the site of the actual event more than two centuries ago.
The public is invited to witness a reenactment performance of “Liberty Defended,” based upon the events of July 30, 1774 at 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the First Parish Meeting House at the corner of Meeting House Road and Old Pool Road in Biddeford. During that historic meeting, citizens of Biddeford gathered to decide whether they would support the Town of Boston in its call for a voluntary non-importation agreement directed against Great Britain.
“There is a direct connection between the past and the present,” said Dana Peck, president of the Biddeford Historical Society. “You don’t know who you are unless you understand where you came from.”
Peck said teaming up with City Theater to stage the performance is a brilliant partnership and these performances have been in the works for several months, including auditions and rehearsals.
City Theater actors are excited about sharing words of Biddeford’s citizens of 245 years ago with a new generation.
“The script is very dense language, but once you’ve read through it all, it really comes together,” said Jeff Cabral, who portrays Biddeford lawyer and meeting moderator James Sullivan. “What’s even more incredible is that this is being performed in the place where it happened. And it’s so interesting to do this in a town hall setting, like it first was.”
Biddeford High student Sally McGrath portrays Sarah Hill, wife of Jeremiah Hill, a leading citizen of Biddeford before and after the Revolutionary War.
McGrath said she has picked up a great deal from working with veteran City Theater actors.
“I enjoy learning from and observing them,” she said. “It’s great experience for the future.”
One of those City Theater veterans is Valerie Nahorney, who portrays Elizabeth Goldthwaite, the wife of Tory supporter George Goldthwaite.
“He dissents from everyone and wants to be loyal to the king,” Nahorney said.
She said that she jumped at the chance to be a part of the reenactment because it’s a one-of-a-kind opportunity.
“It’s kind of important because it’s our community,” she said. “To get to be in a reenactment is cooler than being in a show. It’s history.”
Nahorney also will take on a second role in the performance as a narrator and that has presented her biggest challenge with this presentation.
“As narrator, the text is very dense,” she said. “Sentence structure is very complicated. It’s not modern speech.”
Her husband, Mark Nahorney of City Theater, also portrays two roles as a member of the British Parliament and as John Adams of Massachusetts.
“It’s a bit of a challenge, but a lot of fun,” he said. “Some of the names of people portrayed have descendants still alive and living here.”
He said the goal of the presentation and the partnership with the Biddeford Historical Society is to bring history to life for participants.
“We want people to know the history of Biddeford,” he said. “This show will engulf those who attend because the actors will be sitting among the public. This is a chance for us to take a step back and learn about the history of this country.”
The presentation will be directed by Joshua D. Adams and the script was written for the Biddeford Historical Society in 1974 by David A. DeTurk in honor of the 200th anniversary of the historic meeting in Biddeford.
There is a $5 to $10 suggested donation at the door.
— Executive Editor Ed Pierce can be reached at 282-1535 or by email at editor@journaltribune.com
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
