Join us this Halloween for an unforgettable evening based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe at Hammond Castle Museum.
Step back in time to the days immediately following the Stock Market crash, as ruin awaits many and the nation is on the brink of the Great Depression, to attend one of John Hays Hammond, Jr. famed soirees to celebrate All Hallows’ Eve.
In his strange fortress that he calls the ‘abbey by the sea’, you’ll meet the reclusive and eccentric inventor and the members of his inner circle who reveal secrets steeped in obsession, dread, and the macabre. Come dressed for a 1920s Halloween gathering, and journey through time and space as you descend into the darkened castle amidst its haunting chambers and your hosts’ descent into madness.
Featuring:
Leslie Hillman – Hammond’s devoted English butler, who has served at the castle for 35 years. Keeper of the castle’s secrets, he presents a chilling adaptation of Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado.
Leslie Buswell – English actor and member of the American Ambulance Service during WWI, Hammond’s close friend and romantic partner. He brings suspense to life in an adaptation of Poe’s The Pit and the Pendulum.
Elin Watters – Originally from Sweden, she immigrated to the U.S. in 1920 and serves as a chambermaid at the castle. Wife of former castle butler Stanley Watters, she reveals dark obsession and guilt in her adaptation of Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart.
Irene Fenton Hammond – Accomplished author and artist, Gloucester local, and wife of John Hays Hammond Jr. She explores mesmerism and the supernatural in an adaptation of Poe’s The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar.
Natalie Hays Hammond – Renowned fiber artist and member of the Massachusetts Women’s Defense Corps during WWII, and sister of John Hays Hammond Jr. She evokes dread and decay in adaptations of Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher.
John Hays Hammond Jr. – Prolific American inventor with over 500 patents and visionary owner of the castle and its vast collection of antiquities. A devoted admirer of Edgar Allan Poe, he guides audiences through an adaptation of The Masque of the Red Death.
This unique promenade theater performance begins on the drawbridge and winds through multiple rooms within the Castle. It runs just shy of 60 minutes in total. Performances begin at 6 pm and run every 15 minutes through 9:45 pm. Performances are limited to groups of 15 audience members at a time for an intimate experience. Each story is approximately 6 to 10 minutes long.
**Vintage Halloween attire styled from the 1920s is encouraged. ** Not recommended for children under 13 years old.
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your performance time to allow enough time to park, walk down to the Museum, and for the check-in process. Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate late arrivals. If you miss the start of your timed session, you will not be able to join another performance at another time. Please note: all ticket sales are final, refunds are not offered, and exchanges for other performance times are not permitted. Heavy traffic should be considered when planning your travel time.
**This ticket grants you access to The Madness within the Abbadia Mare: Inspired by the Pen of Edgar Allan Poe. At the time of this event, the Museum will be closed to tours. If you wish to tour Hammond Castle Museum on the day of the ticketed performance, Self-Guided Tour tickets may be purchased in the Museum Shop at a 20% discount. The last tours begin at 2:30 pm. Proof of purchase of The Secrets within the Abbadia Mare will be required.
All proceeds from this program will support the restoration and preservation of the Museum.
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