“Welcome, welcome. Welcome to the Boston Tavern,” Absalom Boston says to open this one-man portrayal of the Black Nantucket whaling captain by Neville Richen, as you are ushered into the world of early nineteenth-century whaling on Nantucket, complete with sea-faring characters and an assessment of racial issues of the day. The play was written by the late David Murphy and Kathy Richen and has been performed by Mr. Richen a number of times following its premiere at the opening of the renovated Whaling Museum in 2005. The show will run for just over thirty minutes and will address the issues of fair prices for African American products and school integration, all told in a robust, seaman-like manner by Mr. Richen. With the piece being performed in front of a whale boat and under the skeleton of a whale, the atmosphere will be perfect for Mr. Richen to transport the audience back to the storied time of whaling on Nantucket.
Absalom Boston: A One-man Portrayal by Neville Richen
The Nantucket Historical Association preserves and interprets the history of Nantucket through its programs, collections, and properties, in order to promote the island’s significance and foster an appreciation of it among all audiences.