A Somer's Evening

Following the opening of the new Orientation Exhibits Gallery at The World Heritage Centre on Penno's Wharf in St. George's earlier last week, I attended 'A Somer's Evening' on Friday ehich was organised by St. Georege's Foundation in partnership with local heritage and museum groups. Multiple short historical re-enactments were staged throughout the town and I followed small crowds over to the Deliverence (pictured), the statue of Sir George Somers, the State House, Town Hall and the Bermudian Heritage Museum. Re-enactments were all quite different with some more scripted and historic than others, and with some using humor and contmporary references to good effect, each depending on the narrative and performative style of the volunteer and costumeed interpreters. At the old state house, members of the Lodge St. George re-enacted a free masonry initiation ritual which has taken place at the site from 1816 to present day, sharing this normally closed ritual with a small audience under dimmed lights and behind closed doors. Sally Bassett's story was dramatically interpreted through a comnination of word, song and dance at the Bermudian Heritage Museum. Though the attendance was less than hoped for and relatively narrow in terms of age and other represnetation, it is the inaugural year of the event. Numbers will no doubt grow with time as has been the case with Bermuda National Trust's winter walkabout in St. George's.