Enter the Shadows: Edgar Allan Poe Returns to Clay Hill Farm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cape Neddick, Maine

Enter the Shadows! Edgar Allan Poe Returns to Clay Hill Farm

Prepare for an evening of gothic splendor and psychological terror as Edgar Allan POE: Masquerade, a

theatrical dining experience, returns to Clay Hill Farm Restaurant. Local favorite Kirk Simpson invites

guests to dine while descending into the darkest corners of the human mind, with a unique program

featuring Poe's most famous tales of dread and revenge.

In a unique twist designed to heighten the suspense, audience members are encouraged to arrive wearing

a mask, acting as silent, masked observers to the evening's macabre proceedings. "The mask changes the

dynamic entirely," says Simpson "It pulls the audience out of their role as passive viewers and makes

them phantoms within the story—silent courtiers at Prince Prospero's side or hidden witnesses to a

murderer's confession. It creates an atmosphere of shared secrecy that is both thrilling and unsettling."

"I love to see the audiences faces as I tell a particular story," says Simpson, "seeing them squirm in their

seats, especially while they enjoy exquisite fare such as Clay Hill Farm's famous Prime-Rib while I

weave a tale of pre-meditated murder...it's fantastic!"

POE: Masquerade offers a progressive journey into terror, balancing theatrical spectacle with deep

psychological intensity:

• The Masque of the Red Death: The evening begins with this tale of luxurious, doomed revelry,

setting the stage for the night's masked theme.

• Hop-Frog: A powerful allegory of revenge against a corrupt and arrogant ruler, a story that

resonates with timely themes of justice and retribution.

• The Tell-Tale Heart: A descent into a killer's paranoia and confession right before your eyes

and table.

• The Raven: The unforgettable, haunting finale, providing a lingering sense of gothic despair to

close the evening.

Guests will order and enjoy dinner while the performance unfolds around and among them, blending the

reality of a fine dining experience with the fantasy of a chilling literary world perfect for the Halloween

and Fall Season.

WHERE: Clay Hill Farm Restaurant, 220 Clay Hill Rd, Cape Neddick, ME 03902

Tickets for EDGAR ALLAN POE: MASQUERADE are $25 per person, plus the cost of food and

beverage. $35 per person food/beverage minimum.

WHEN: Evening performances are at 6 p.m. while matinee shows are at 1 p.m. Doors open 30 minutes

prior to showtime.

The shows kick off Halloween Eve, Thursday, October 30th at 6pm! Other evening shows include

Halloween Night, Friday, October 31st, Monday November 3 & 10 and Thursday November 6.

Matinees include Saturday November 1 and Sunday November 9.

Reservations are required. Call (207) 361.2272 and visit www.ClayHillFarm.com for more details.Simpson will continue at Clay Hill Farm in December of 2024 with Dinner with Dickens, an evening with

Charles Dickens and his very special reading of 'A Christmas Carol', followed by Robert Frost: Fire &

Ice in February 2026

About Kirk Simpson and Clay Hill Farm

Kirk Simpson started performing back in 1985 where he began his career in acting at the local

Renaissance Faire in Largo, Florida, from there the next 36 years were filled with Renaissance Faires

across the east coast, musical theater, theater, children's theater, interactive themed events and so much

more. Fresh from playing King Richard at King Richard's Faire in Carver, MA, where he has reigned for

the last 7 years, Simpson currently resides in South Berwick with his husband and family.

Clay Hill Farm is an award-winning restaurant and special event venue on 11 private acres in Cape

Neddick, Maine. Clay Hill Farm is a proud supporter of both the community and the arts, with a passion

for locally sourced food and professional service to offer an authentic Maine experience.