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Tavern Players tell stories from the past

Local history comes back to life thanks to the Lewes Historical Society
Terry Mansberger, as merchant Draper, left, and Kyle Annerino, as merchant Mifflin, toast their good fortune to have tea to drink. In the 1770s, taverns and inns refused to serve tea because of the British tax. In December 1773, the Tea Ship Polly passed by Lewes as part of seven ships bringing tea to the Colonies. RON MACARTHUR PHOTOS
Ron MacArthur
August 11, 2022

Lewes Historical Society’s Tavern Talks: “Flights” Aug. 6 featured a seven-act performance by The Sussex Tavern Players depicting vignettes from the history of Lewes from 1777 to 1837.

Before the start of each scene, colonial-period-dressed servers offered the audience beer pairings including local Dogfish Head brews, and beers and ales from Guinness, Yards, Founders and Killian’s.

The performance covered the years leading up to the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, as well as stories of piracy.

In an effort to bring living history to the society, Marcos Salaverria, director of education, and Andrew Lyter, new executive director, started Tavern Talks five years ago. First performed at the historic Ryves Holt House, the performance has grown each year and moved to a new home at the circa 1740 Rabbit’s Ferry House, now known as Sussex Tavern, a true location, which once stood on Second Street, Salaverria said. The cast has grown from three to more than 15, ranging in age from 18 to 80.

Salaverria said that each performance is based on actual events from the history of Lewes.

Salaverria, Lyter, and volunteer and performer Bill Hicks have authored scripts for the performances. Each has also appeared in various roles in each of the five past shows, representing multiple years of history, along with prominent, and sometimes infamous, Lewestown residents of the past.

 

 

Griffin Barrow, as Henry Fisher, left, and Dawson Gehrke, as Capt. Gamble, nearly come to blows in the first scene. Confrontations between Loyalists and Patriots were commonplace in the 1770s.
Ina Appolite serves beer to those attending the Aug. 6 Tavern Talk. A beer pairing was offered before the start of each of the seven scenes presented by The Sussex Tavern Players.
Sussex Tavern Player Denise Bridgens serves as narrator of the performance.
Lucie Allen, left, and Susan Kelly, portraying servants, talk about their fears of a colonists’ uprising against the British in the third scene, “A Servant’s Struggle.”
Greg Burton, as John Burton, comforts widow Mrs. Mitchelmore, portrayed by Rachel Lynch, by adding alcohol to her cup. Her husband perished in the sinking of the William Penn in 1837.
Bill Hicks, as river and bay pilot Thomas Rowland, left, retells the story of the long black schooner to friend James West, portrayed by Scott Lackman, who is also a pilot.
To create the atmosphere of a colonial tavern, candles provide the lighting.
Marcos Salaverria portrays a man who has had a little too much to drink during the first scene. Salaverria, the historical society’s director of education, wrote the play offered by The Sussex Tavern Players.
Bill Hicks portrays Dr. Matthew Wilson, a local preacher, as he tries to calm down two young men in a tavern.
Lana Browne, as Mrs. Houston, performs in the second act titled “1773: Tea Ship Polly - Tea? or Coffee?”
The audience enjoys the performance taking place in the historic Rabbit’s Ferry House in the Lewes Historical Society complex.
Patricia McCarthy, as Sarah Marriner, talks about the fears of Lewestown residents during the British blockade during the early years of the War of 1812.
Marty Rosensweig, as British sailor James Strutt, describes his plan to abandon his ship later that night and swim to Lewes. Many other sailors deserted their ships during the 22-hour bombardment of Lewes in 1813.

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