Parade planning in the works
While many cling to summer’s last hours, others are on to planning fall and winter holidays.
The Portsmouth Halloween Parade, which will celebrate its 25th year this October, starts its season, and necessary fundraising in September this year, on Friday the 13th.
“We’re starting a little earlier in the season, to give Portsmouth the Halloween it loves so much – and it breaks it up a little more for those that run it,” original Fury and Coven Member Abby Wiggin says. “Trying to get it all into October is a little overwhelming.”
The fundraisers include a few new and one revived event. (Note: PHP is NOT a city event, and requires fundraising to pay for police details and insurance.)
It starts with “‘Friday the 13th’ on Friday the 13th,” a new, outdoor film-screening featuring the famous horror flick in the Liars Bench Beer Co. beer garden.
Next up, a revival of Spooky Ride, Sept. 28, in conjunction with Peddle Power of Portsmouth, “with (owner) Steve Bakula, who happens to be part of the Monster Troupe,” Wiggin says.
“We’ll be leaving from there and going to some cemeteries, and we possibly have a few other tricks up our sleeve,” Wiggin says. ” There may be prizes, raffles; … we’ll see if there’s any interest.”
When PHP put out a call for fundraising ideas back in the spring, Bakula suggested the ride’s return. “And we went for it,” she says. “And there’s more new ones, too!”
Portsmouth Halloween Parade Tattoo Flash Day at Grim North Tattoo and Piercing is also on Sept. 28. A Halloween tattoo for you, funds for the parade.
On Oct. 21, the Chefs After Dark, held at Moxy Restaurant, will be open to all as a “bennie” for the parade. “It’s a series that’s been going on for a while. A number of chefs get together after their restaurants close and have a cooking competition. … This one benefits the parade and starts around 10 (p.m.),” she says.
Scary-okie is at the Press Room, Oct. 28 – more on that to come.
Lots of the tried-and-true events return, notably the 15th Annual (I Gotta) Rock! Show Oct. 4, at the Press Room, when this year’s marshal will be announced. Oct. 17 is Undead Beat Night at Portsmouth Book and Bar, followed by the ever-popular Pumpkin SMASH at the Portsmouth Farmers’ Market, Oct. 19.
Whatever the event, please consider the raffle tickets – they go a long way in underwriting the event, Wiggins says. The parade is a grassroots effort, not an official Portsmouth event.
“It is NOT a city event. I write all the checks, pay all the bills. If it’s not the insurance, then the police get a raise,” she says. “We depend on the people that love us so much to come and support.”
A new escape room
And keeping with the Halloween theme: Buddies Denise McDonough and Rob Ross have pondered creating an escape room since, “before there were any around here,” McDonough, the recently elected Garrison Players marketing director says. “So, we’ve been cooking this up in our minds for a while.”
And so they formed K’nuNdRum, which will produce “Keepers of Secrets,” an Escape Room experience, as a fundraiser for the Garrison Players with Robb Ross the director, and McDonough “his second.”
“It is a true Escape Room, but what makes it an experience is we’re going to try to immerse the guests into a full experience from the moment they walk into the door at Garrison.”
The Wizard World-themed game features a theatrical twist with costumed characters as guides, McDonough says. The room itself, complete with true puzzles, will be an elaborate Head Wizard’s private chambers. The goal: Solve the problem by retrieving the wizard’s grimoire.
“We will have portraits in the room, live actors in character. They have a little storyline to share, not to interfere, but enhance and also to give hints and facilitate.”
Other characters guide gamers to a photo shoot once their time is up.
“There’s going to be some whizz-bang going on,” McDonough says. “We’ll be using the technology used in these puzzles. It’s going to look magical and it’s going to feel magic.”
The game was created for adults, but with assistance is accessible to “little wizards.”
Gamers, and the public at large are invited to visit the Wizard’s Tavern in Garrison’s Barten Hall (lower floor).
“There will be items for sale, like wands, and butter beer. Or you can create own wands,” McDonough says.
Outside organizations such as the Noggin Factory and the Dover Public Library will take part.
“We will immerse you into the experience,” McDonough says. “We want to make it feel as as if you traveled to a different place and time.”
Guests are encouraged to wear costumes, “and have fun,” she adds. “Be a wizard … take part in the season (Oct.15 through Nov. 2; Thursday through Sunday).”
The room accommodates eight gamers. Tickets are sold individually, or you can purchase the whole room for a deal.
“This is a fundraiser. It’s something everyone in the theater is excited about. From the president down they’re all working on it,” she says.”If it’s popular, we’ll add another night, or add another hour. We can do that and we’d love to to see that.” (Tickets at Garrisonplayers.com.)
Volunteers for multi-cast actor and characters are still being sought. Auditions are Friday, Sept 6 at 6:30 p.m.at Garrison (info at https://www.garrisonplayers.org/auditions).
On to Christmas
Now on to December and the annual Players’ Ring production of “A Christmas Carol,” with Deb Barry in the director’s seat this year.
“This is my first time directing the show at The Players’ Ring (or anywhere). I was the co-stage manager for the 2016 production and assisted with costumes for the 2017 production,” Barry says. “I’m interested in exploring what makes it so appealing year after year. … It’s a story of human foibles, awakenings, and enduring faith which draw me in.”
Barry has her cast: 16 strong (age 10 to 60), plus two musicians. Steve Sacks , her Scrooge, isn’t new to the Ring, and performed the role years back.
As is the tradition in recent years, the theater’s adaptation will meet with changes. Barry will use the first adaptation by Christopher Savage (based on the Dickens novella and Gary Newton’s adaptation), “but I am tweaking it a bit as well.”
There’s the addition of musicians, and “some real dancing in a few scenes as built in to the story, and some background music as well,” she says. “I’m also looking at (and have cast) some of the characters a bit differently. I am focusing on the human elements of the story in this production.”
She’s also moved it to Lowell, Massachusetts, circa 1843. “This setting doesn’t change the story at all,” Barry says. “Here in our country, similar social, political, and economic situations existed and this production will remind audiences of this.”
Barry returns to the Ring later in the season. Debb’s Productions, Barry’s company, will co-produce “The Smallest Room in the House” with Paul Goodwin’s Gypsy Heart Productions. The two worked Goodwin’s original as part of the Ring’s Late Night Series in 2013.
“Paul pitched the play for mainstage for the Ring’s 2019-20 season and it was selected,” she says. “He asked me to work with him again. It’s a sweet play following a young, newly married couple through five decades of life. It says a lot about family challenges and enduring love.”
Jeanné McCartin keeps her eyes and ears open for gossip at maskmakernh@gmail.com.
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