Oct 02, 2006 23:10
Contact: George Hosker, 603-380-6142; Laura Pope, (207) 439-8210
The Underbelly Scavenger Hunt Melds History, Clues, Theater and Adventure
Set for Halloween Weekend: Sat. & Sun., October 28 & 29//Begins 5 pm in front of the Rusty Hammer
PORTSMOUTH-Though the informative and irreverent walking tour, called The Underbelly Tour of Portsmouth, NH, has concluded its 2006 season, the history and theater troupe is presenting a new Halloween event called The Underbelly Scavenger Hunt. Tapping new and established reserves of local history, the actors of Vatican Productions once again step into character, this time waiting for participants in the Scavenger Hunt to find them hidden around town. Once found, each of these historic characters dispense their own distinct brand of bawdy humor and an historic clue.
Once all the clues are collected, another riddle is solved and winners emerge to win a variety of prizes, including tickets to theatrical and historical events
The Underbelly Tour was created by Laura Pope and George Hosker two years ago as a means of entertaining and educating the public on an adults-only, hour-long waking tour.
Not your average tour, The Underbelly focuses on the grittier, authentic history of the city not found in most walking tours and taps one of the city's other great commodities - its acting community - as costumed, period presenters of this history. Pope, a career journalist, compiled the history contained in the tour, while Hosker, an arts leader, playwright and actor, gathered a troupe of actors - many regulars in the now dormant Piscataqua Faire, a Renaissance Faire on the waterfront- to lead the tours. Underbelly characters include Silas Deane, the purported double agent during the American Revolution; Minerva, the Tavern Wench at the Bunch of Grapes Tavern; Clive, the grave digger; Olive the Trollop; Constance the Librarian and Johnnie, the provincial governor. Most of these characters are based on actual figures from our past; their presentations are factual with a large dose of improvisational and wit thrown in for good measure. In fact, the Underbelly Tour is most often described as "where history and theater meet for a laugh." Featured last year on television's "New Hampshire Chronicle" and this year on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered," the tour has attracted an underground following of locals and tourists alike.
This same sense of history and humor infuses the Underbelly Scavenger Hunt, created to challenge the history buff, engage the adventurer fond of a good puzzle and people who want to experience a one- or two-hour gallivant about town with friends. Teams of one, two, three or four people will be given a set of clues and will be set off in different directions; those starting off early may have an advantage.
The Scavenger Hunt begins promptly at 5 p.m. in front of the Rusty Hammer, the unofficial headquarters for all Underbelly presentations. It also ends there.
Tickets are $10 per person. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
For more information about The Underbelly Tour, The Underbelly Scavenger Hunt and more Vatican Productions events, including their interactive dinner theater programs, call (603) 380-6142 or visit their web site at www.underbellytour.com