BETHEL — Bethel Community Players will present a new porch play, “When the Parade Came By Our House Every Year About This Time We Would Gather on the Porch” Saturday, Aug. 8, as part of the Bethel Historical Society’s annual Sudbury Canada Days.

The three-day summer heritage festival will run Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 7-9.

“When the Parade Came By” was written by Ross Timberlake, Bethel Performing Arts Project co-volunteer coordinator. This “fictional history” of Bethel plays out on five porches as local residents and visitors follow the town crier along Main Street and Broad Street’s historic district. Each stand-alone act lasts nearly 20 minutes.

The play will begin with the first act, “When,” at 1:30 p.m. on Mitzi Naples’ porch on lower Main Street. Lorrie Hoeh, actor/director, will be supported by cast members Norman Milliard, Jeff Parsons and Gabriel Stone. Set in the 1960s, this act deals with changes in a small town.

Café DiCocoa’s porch in the middle of lower Main Street will be the backdrop for the second act, “The Parade Came By,” beginning at 2:15 p.m. Set in the present time, the act focuses on the value of community and coming together. Cast members direct this act and include Jay Buschetti, Harry Faulkner, Kevin Pennell and Sharon Lyon.

The third act, “Our House,” will take place at 3 p.m. on the porch of Linda Clifford, Scottish Irish Merchant, in the middle of Main Street. Tom Coolidge is actor/director with cast members Amanda and Dylan Coolidge, Carole Timberlake, Steve Wight and Norman Clanton. Set in present time, this act takes a look toward the future and at Yankee ingenuity in the face of ever-changing regulations.

The fourth act, “Every Year About This Time,” will take place on Karen Brown Mohr’s porch (former Tibbett’s house) on upper Main Street beginning at 3:45 p.m. This act goes back to the 1930s and depicts the unexpected power of forgiveness. Lynn Arizzi, co-volunteer coordinator of BPAP, directs and also performs in this act, supported by cast members Joe Arizzi, Walter Brough and Ross Timberlake.

Stan Howe’s porch on Broad Street is the site of the final act, “We Would Gather on the Porch,” which will begin at 4:30 p.m. Arizzi and Ross Timberlake narrate this act, which is a celebration of community. Cast members from all previous acts plus extras will support the finale.

A suggested donation of 50 cents for each porch play act is suggested to help cover costs. For more information, contact Timberlake at 824-6545.

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