Just who is Guy Fawkes? The story begins in 1605, when Guy Fawkes (also known as Guido-yes, really) and a group of coconspirators attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament. The conspirators were angered because King James had been exiling Jesuits from England. The plotters wanted to wrest power away from the king and return the country to the Catholic faith. Today, they would be known as extremists.

However, in an attempt to protect a friend in the House of Lords, one of the group members sent an anonymous letter warning his friend to stay away from the parliament on the evening in question. The warning letter reached the King, and the conspirators were caught, tortured and executed. Guy Fawkes and his friends had rolled 36 barrels of gunpowder under the Houses of Parliament.

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These days, Guy Fawkes Day is also known as Bonfire Night. The event is commemorated every year with fireworks and burning an effigy of Fawkes on a bonfire. The effigies are simply known as “Guys”, which the English have been burning to mark Guy Fawkes Day for almost 400 years.

In the first bonfires, called “bone fires” at the time, it was not the bones or effigies of Guy Fawkes which were burned. Not until 1806, two centuries later, did the people start burning effigies of Guy Fawkes himself. Still today, communities throw dummies of Guy Fawkes, politicians and people in the news on the bonfire.

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The Misquamicut Players have made an annual tradition of reenacting this night of inquisition and execution. Written and Directed by Caswell Cooke, Jr. and Wayne Holmes and presented by the Misquamicut Business Association at the Andrea Hotel, this evening brings together local actors and musicians for a comedic look at this English holiday.

Actors including Ryan Zemanek, Matthew Hopkins, Rick Corbett and Chris DiPaola will play the parts of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Duke of Earl, Earl of Nottingham and King respectively. The setting is the Court of King James I in England circa 1605. There will be flutes, a five piece trombone section, and marvelous costumes. Then there are bagpipes, hot cider, the large bonfire, fireworks and so much more. The whole family is invited to step back in time and enjoy this magical evening. 2005 celebrates the 400th anniversary of this event, but the eighth for the Misquamicut Players. This year, the Guy Fawkes Bonfire Night has merged with the Misquamicut Beach Fall Fest and Street Fair. Beginning at noon, the Fall Fest and Street Fair is family-oriented event, similar to a huge neighborhood block party.

The lower portions of Winnapaug Road and some portions of Atlantic Avenue will be closed off to traffic and transformed into the festival. Admission is free and there will be plenty to do for everyone in the family.

Many of the restaurants and stores will be open for business, offering specials and discounts especially for the fall festival.

Among the activities planned for the children are pumpkin carving, sponsored by Manfredi Farms; a Moonwalk and Air Slide sponsored by Howard Lehman; karate demonstrations will once again be done by Northeast Karate and their talented kids and face painting will be provided by Eventful Planning.

For older kids, Misquamicut’s Rock Wall will be open to test your climbing skills and at the other end of the street, the Flamboyant Chef, Mark Atlas, will entertain all with his explosively famous food demonstrations. Atlas has been on a number of national television programs, most recently on Fox. He markets his own All Star Spice and Clam Chowder, available at Big Y and Stop & Shop. The Chef will entertain each hour throughout the day.

Professor Harp and Skinny Mulligan will entertain the fairgoers and Softrock 106.5 will be broadcasting live throughout the day from the Classic Car Cruise, held at Paddy’s Bayside Lot and Jammin’ 107.7 will be broadcasting live throughout the day from the Hot Rod Car Show in Sandy’s lot.

After a day of free festivities, on Saturday, Oct. 8 running from noon to 6PM, the players present their reenactment of the Guy Fawkes Trial and bonfire, concluding in a grand finale fireworks display . The reenactment performance features “The Misquamicut Players,” a group of local actors, and “King Crimson’s Jesters,” an ensemble of local musicians (aka The Beach Bums), and will begin at 7PM at the Andrea Hotel, 89 Atlantic Ave, Misquamicut Beach.

Written and produced by Westerly Town Councilor Caswell Cooke Jr., each season the Guy Fawkes performance incorporates a different thematic element into the 17th century trail and execution of Guy ‘Guido’ Fawkes, who attempted, for religious reasons, to blow up British Parliament with the everyone it, including the King.

This year, according to Cooke, musicians will perform the Beatles Classics “All You Need Is Love,” as well as a medley from the famous 1969 album Abby Road. Cameo appearances by the likes of “Star Trek’s” Capt. Kirk are expected and past performances have included Monty Python and Braveheart themes.

Lead singer of the Crimson Jesters, Wayne Holmes, who co-owns a recording studio in Vernon, Conn., says these songs fit into the reenactment of the King’s Court as if they were conceived in those times.

The event includes an enormous bonfire on the beach, and displays by the Westerly Morris Men, as well as the full marching regalia of Rhode Island’s Kentish Guards Fife and Drum Corp.

All are welcome and the event is free of charge. A fireworks finale will end the festivities.

Just a side note to the celebration: Even 400 years ago, people had a love of conspiracy theories. A common question asked is; “was there really a gunpowder plot, or were the “conspirators” framed by the king?” There was no doubt an attempt to blow up parliament. Guy Fawkes and his associates may have been caught in a Jacobean sting operation. Many of the plotters were known traitors. It would have been almost impossible for them to get hold of 36 barrels of gunpowder without the government finding out.

As for the secret warning letter, many historians believe the King’s officials fabricated it. The letter made it easy to explain how the king found out about the plot and stopped it just in time. The letter was in fact very vague. It said nothing about the details of the attack. Still, the King and his men knew exactly where and when to catch the conspirators and stop the plot.

Of course, Rhode Island's presentation is a bit more tongue-in-cheek, but if you're in an English sort of mood, you might consider buttering your crumpets and heading to Misquamicut Beach for a day's festivities and entertainment. Oh, and it's free.

The 8th Annual Guy Fawkes Bonfire Night and Misquamicut Beach Fall Fest & Street Fair is October 8, along Misquamicut Beach in Westerly, with live 7p.m. performance at Andrea Hotel, 89 Atlantic Ave. Misquamicut Beach, RI. Rain Date is Nov. 2.

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