“The Guide to New England is a look at the way we Yankees dress, eat, talk, and behave,” says Fred Marple. “There are a lot of things that seem to confuse outsiders, and even make us scratch our own heads at time”.

Fred will explain life in a small town where everyone knows your business, often before you do. He will also explain the people who live in those towns, from the cheapskate native to the affluent transplant. He’ll discuss Yankee food, including why we think baked beans and vegetables boiled with a piece of corned beef are examples of haute cuisine, and he’ll examine Yankee fashion, from the ever present flannel to rummage sale ensembles. He’ll discuss our love affair with old houses, which persists despite bats in the attic and wiring possibly installed by Ben Franklin.

Fred, also known as Humorist Ken Sheldon, has appeared on New Hampshire Chronicle, in the pages of Yankee Magazine and New Hampshire Magazine, and on his own variety show Frost Heaves. For a preview of the show visit: fredmarple.com.

Tickets range from $10 to $14 and are available online at: franklinoperahouse.org, or call 934-1901. Franklin Opera House is a historic community arts and entertainment center in Franklin, New Hampshire.