Even though this may be a “scoop” on The Clarion, I don’t feel bad including this post because it came to me from Joy Nalevanko via Barbara Kasper.  Given Barbara’s excellent work with The Clarion I dthought she must be comfortable allowing me to say, “You saw it first in The Walpolean.” – Lil

Grease paint and curtain calls…these elements of theater and Alstead history have been melded into a two act play written and directed by Marilou Blaine. “All Stayed in Alstead” will be presented for two nights, August 8th and 9th beginning at 7:00 pm at the 3rd Congregational Church in the Village.

The play’s span of time is between the signing of Alstead’s charter in 1763 and the beginnings of the Revolutionary War in 1776 and follows several families of our first settles through their hardships, fears and triumphs. From the beginnings in an unsettled land to notable homes of Alstead, to prison, to Boston and finally to the former home of Simon Baxter, the story of Alstead’s beginning unfolds.

The characters are brought to life by notable thespians of Alstead. Colleen Heidorn portrays Sarah Cady in the story of the little lost boy; Aiden Jasmin is the British officer who explains the responsibilities of the charter to the new land-owners. Others appearing are Dan Hall as Captain Benjamin Bellows, Joyce Campbell as John Burroughs, Steve Blake as Samuel Chase, Dennis Molesky as the infamous Tory, Simon Baxter, Ellen Chase as his wife Prudence and John Mann as Judge Wyman. Not to be left out are Donna Sabin, Jackie Walker and Julie Stevens as narrators.

This promises to be an enlightening experience for all ages. The performances are free, there will be one intermission with refreshments.