Revolution’s Edge
Revolution’s Edge
An Original Theatrical Work Commissioned by Old North Illuminated
Produced by Plays in Place
Written by Patrick Gabridge
Directed by Jess Meyer
April 18, 2025, 6:30pm
Paul Revere Mall, Boston’s North End
Free and open to the public
April 18, 2025 will mark the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere’s famous “two if by sea” lantern signal in Old North Church’s steeple. To kick off Boston’s Patriots’ Day weekend celebrations in partnership with the City of Boston, Old North Illuminated will stage a free reading of the hit play Revolution’s Edge behind Old North Church on Paul Revere Mall. Mayor Michelle Wu and other local officials will attend the play and give remarks to commemorate this historic anniversary.
Written by Patrick Gabridge and produced by Plays in Place, Revolution’s Edge is a gripping 45-minute historical drama that ran at Old North Church in the summers of 2023 and 2024. The play garnered critical acclaim and press coverage from the Associated Press, WBUR’s Radio Boston, and WGBH’s Boston Public Radio.
Revolution’s Edge takes us to the afternoon of April 18, 1775, hours before the signal lanterns would shine from Old North’s steeple. With war on the horizon, Old North’s Loyalist rector, the Rev. Dr. Mather Byles Jr., is pushed to “resign” his post. As Byles and Cato (an African man enslaved by Byles) prepare to leave the church for the final time, they encounter Capt. John Pulling Jr., a prominent member of the congregation, ardent Patriot, and friend of Paul Revere. As these three real-life characters have an imagined conversation, long-simmering tensions reflecting the complexities of life in colonial Boston come to a boil. Revolution’s Edge invites audiences to consider the spectrum of political beliefs that existed during the Revolutionary War era and the ways that race, class, and personal experiences influence our beliefs and values today.
The event will be held outdoors on Paul Revere Mall, a public and accessible space. In the event of rain, the reading will move across Hanover Street to St. Stephen’s Church. Guests will be greeted with live music before brief speaking remarks welcome the crowd and introduce the 45-minute costumed read of Revolution’s Edge. ASL interpreters will translate during the performance. Most audience members will stand, but space will be held for wheelchair and companion seating. Old North’s lanterns will light up soon after the play’s conclusion, at the beginning of the reenactment of Revere’s row across the Charles River.
No tickets are required, but be sure to add the event to your calendar!
Revolutionary Sponsor: Freedom Trail® Foundation
Patriot Sponsors: Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts, National Society Sons of the American Revolution
Praise for Revolution’s Edge
“Revolution’s Edge is a uniquely engaging time-travel experience…superbly acted and elegantly written…I felt our history alive around me, and how connected we all are across time. The resonance in our own day is haunting…Must see.”
– Joyce Kulhawik, Arts Critic
“It was absolutely an outstanding and riveting production…The script is so believable…and the acting brought it to life. In a word, it’s powerful!”
– Lill Halberg, Audience Member
“The actors were excellent performers and the dialogue was provocative and meaningful for any time period. I especially appreciated the characterization of Cato, a slave of the church pastor who is a Loyalist. It made me think about a slave held by my own revolutionary ancestor and what life must have been like for him.”
– Midwest_Roamer22, TripAdvisor Reviewer
“Don’t sleep on this! Make time to go whether you are visiting or a local. So impressed after viewing it on 7/4/23. Not a word or movement wasted! Bravo to the production team, the actors, and organizations that made this happen.”
– Angelica Davila, YouTube Reviewer
