The Slippery Truth: Prison Break Play at Old New-Gate Prison
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This post is a paid partnership with the Connecticut Office of Tourism. All opinions expressed are my own.
If you’re looking for an interesting way to dive into some American Revolution history for the United State’s 250th anniversary this year, The Slippery Truth: Prisonbreak At New-Gate needs to be on your list. It runs from July 10th to August 30th. I checked this play out on the opening weekend, and I was honestly so impressed. I learned a lot, despite the fact that it was not my first time visiting Old New-Gate Prison.
Historical Significance of Old New-Gate Prison & Copper Mine
You’re probably wondering why this historic site is significant to the American Revolution. In 1773, the once prosperous copper mine became the first state prison in Connecticut. The idea was to isolate the prisoners from society and reform them.
During the war, it became a notorious political prison for people who were viewed to be loyal to the British Crown. Connecticut had some of the most severe treason laws in the colonies during the American Revolution. These loyalists, also known as Tories, we arrested for having differing views from the patriots and thrown into prison with dangerous criminals. The Slippery Truth highlights the stories of prisoners who did time at New-Gate for being Tories.
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About The Slippery Truth: Prison Break at New-Gate
This a unique show put on at Old New-Gate Prison & Copper Mine, a history museum in East Granby, Connecticut. The play covers an actual prisonbreak that happened there in 1781 where a group of Loyalist prisoners escaped. The play is based on actual historical records, which I thought was extremely interesting.
The play is put on by Plays in Place, who specializes in developing and producing new site-specific plays. They are known for covering stories of overlooked or often-forgotten people. They did a great job with this site-specific play because despite the fact that I’ve visited the prison before, I had no idea there was a prison break! I can’t be that shocked that I didn’t know though because I’m pretty bad about reading informational signs.
Attending The Play
Since this play was not at a traditional theatre or playhouse, I was not sure what to expect. I got there about thirty minutes early. Since I got there early, I decided to check out Viets’ Tavern, which is directly across the street from the prison. This spot was pinned as a spot on the Connecticut Revolutionary War Trail, so I wanted to take a peek at it.
Right now, Viets’ Tavern is not open to the public. However, Old New-Gate Prison is working to restore the building so it can be opened for public use in the future. This building was home to Captain John Viets. He was the prison’s first warden.
After snapping some photos of Viets’ Tavern, I headed into the Visitor Center to check in for the play. I had my digital tickets added to my digital wallet, but I didn’t need them. They looked me up by name and I was able to check in that way. Then I was handed a playbill, and I was on my way.
Act One
The first act took place in the Guardhouse. The doors to the Guardhouse opened briefly before the play started, so we were able to explore the grounds a bit before the doors opened.
Chairs were set up in the Guardhouse for the audience to sit in and fans were provided for each guest. It was a bit hot and stuffy in the Guardhouse, so I really appreciated that they offered these. I definitely used mine! This act covered the interrogation of people involved in the prison break.
Act Two
For the second act, we were led into the old copper mine where the prisoners spent their sentences. This was to give the audience an idea of what everyday life was like for the prisoners. As we made our way through the mine, we listened in on whisperings about the planning of the prisonbreak.
The mine is not super accessible, so not everyone will be able to do this part. They give audience members the option to stay aboveground for a parallel experience.
If you’re planning to go into the mine, you’ll descend down 33 modern steps. The mine is damp, and consistently 52 degrees Fahrenheit. The loop inside the mine is 100 yards, starting at 35 feet below ground and descending 75 feet below ground. You’ll be provided with a flashlight to help you see in the mine.
For going into the mine, I highly recommend wearing close-toed shoes at the very least, and maybe something with decent grip. The ground is slippery and uneven inside the mine. I held onto the railing the entire time I was in the mine for stability.
Act Three
After exiting the mine, we headed to the chapel for the third act. There were chairs set up inside for the audience. Now when I say inside, I really mean in the walls of what’s left of the chapel. There’s no roof or windows.
During this act, you’ll see an interpretation of what the prisoners who planned the escape did on the night of the escape. It gives a good look into what the loyalists of the time were thinking during the American Revolution.
Question and Answer Session
After the play finished, the audience was invited back to the Guardhouse for a question and answer session. It’s completely optional, but I’d recommend going. We were able to learn a bit more about the history of the prison and how the play came to be. Additionally, we were able to ask the museum curator, the producer of the play, and an actor from the play questions about the history and show.
During the Q&A, the museum curator said that they were looking to highlight the complicated history at the prison and how loyalists were treated horribly at the prison just for having different beliefs than the patriots. Honestly, I think that the play was really well-done and did a great job showcasing this in a digestible way for most audiences.
My Thoughts
I think that this play is absolutely worth checking out, even if you’ve previously been to Old New-Gate Prison. The Slippery Truth offers a completely new experience at the museum, bringing history alive with the help of Plays in Place’s talented team. I brought my cousin with me who loves traditional plays, and she loved getting to learn history in this format.
If you’re looking to see this show for yourself, you can get tickets online.
Other Things To Do In The Area
If you’re looking to make the most of your trip, I’d recommend spending the day in the area. When I saw this show, I spent time exploring East Granby, West Granby, and Simsbury beforehand. Since I love history, I spent a lot of time checking out historic sites. Below is what I personally did the day I saw The Slippery Truth.
Sadoce Wilcox House in West Granby
I got lucky that there was an open house the day I saw the play! I’d photographed this house in the past, but it’s not open very often. If you’re looking to tour this house when you head up to the area for the play, there is another open house on Saturday, August 22 from 10:00am-12pm. This house was built in 1800 and it is one of the coolest historic houses I’ve toured in Connecticut. I was even able to see the attic and basement, which is not typical.
Farmington Canal Heritage Trail in East Granby
I took a short walk on the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail after visiting the Sadoce Wilcox House. If you have a bicycle, this is a great trail to ride on. The parking area we parked in was next to scenic tobacco farms and a historic train station. The lot was also right by Brignole Vineyards, which we didn’t stop at this trip.
Old Drake Hill Flower Bridge
The Old Drake Hill Flower Bridge is an example of a 19th century metal-truss bridge over the Farmington River. It was originally designed and built in 1892 and it is 183 feet long. The bridge was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. While you can’t drive over it, you can walk across it and enjoy all of the flowers along the bridge.
Pinchot Sycamore
This tree is the oldest American sycamore tree in Connecticut. It’s also believed to be the largest tree in Connecticut. I was absolutely blown away by the size of it. The tree’s circumference is a whopping 28 feet. The picture I took doesn’t even do it any justice. You really need a person standing next to it to really grasp how massive this tree is. It’s definitely worth a quick visit if you’re in the area.
Lunch at The Cracker Barrel Pub
Not to be confused with Cracker Barrel the restaurant chain, this is a pub in Tariffville, a section of Simsbury. We considered getting food at Julien’s Farm Store in Granby, but I was looking to try something new. I had this unassuming pub saved in my Google Maps. This spot surprised me with great food and drinks.
Ice Cream at Tulmeadow Farm
I’ve been told that this is the Salem Valley Farms of this part of the state. It’s been on my list of spots to check out for a while, so we opted for this spot over one of the Grassroots Ice Cream locations in the area.
When we got there, the line was long, which confirmed its popularity. The ice cream was worth the wait, but I think this southeastern CT girl prefers her Salem Valley Farms ice cream. I will say it is much more scenic here than Salem Valley Farms though!
More Ideas For Things To Do
I obviously couldn’t get to everything there is to do in the area in one day. Below are some more resources to help you plan your trip to the area!
