Step into the flickering shadows of 19th-century New England in this candlelit* theatrical presentation. Gothic Victorian Tales brings to life the haunting and mysterious world of regional writer Sarah Orne Jewett, known for her richly drawn characters and quiet, unsettling atmosphere.
In this evocative performance, you’ll encounter:
- A family haunted by a lingering curse
- A mysterious stranger who unsettles a small town
- An old woman who may—or may not—be immortal
Blending Gothic tension with New England locales, these tales explore the thin veil between the known and the unknowable, the natural and the supernatural. Perfect for fans of regional literature, atmospheric drama, and literary mystery.
50 minute performance with atmospheric lighting and Q & A
Appropriate for ages 10 and up
“… Rita portrayed author Sarah Orne Jewett and performed the essence of three of her Gothic tales – some of which inspired Lovecraft. A stunning, riveting performance with a voice you don’t want to relinquish!” -Edith Maxwell, award winning author of the Quaker Midwife Series of books
“Rita Parisi’s presentation of Gothic Victorian Tales by Candlelight is transporting. She enters the room as Sarah Orne Jewett in period dress, silently evoking Jewett’s time and place. She speaks as Jewett, the storyteller, and as Jewett’s characters, and is so true, so effortless in her delivery that Rita is, in turn, each of them. Against a simple backdrop and so few props, what Rita does is no less than magical, no less mysterious and mystical than Jewett’s work itself.” -Susan Odencrantz audience member, Cape Elizabeth Maine
This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Library.