by Macey Levin
What does the battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC have to do with the long forgotten American Revolution’s Battle of Oriskany in upstate New York? Well, just about everything according to Ned Averill-Snell’s one man play, Herkimer! How My Ignorant Immigrant Ancestors Saved America and You Can Too” performed at Bridge Street Theatre in Catskill as part of SoloFest 2026. The first line in the play is “480 B.C.” But, in fact, the play is about the American Revolution. The writer’s, Early American colonial history, depicts the era with fascinating comments as he prepares the audience for an intellectual and emotional adventure cocooned amidst the story of a terrible Greek Battle.
Initially, Averill-Snell recounts how early immigrants, including his own ancestral Palatines from Germany, settled in the Mohawk Valley in what is now New York. He describes myriad similarities between the Battle of Thermopylae, Greece, in 480 B.C. and the Battle of Oriskany, New York, in 1777. Both events pitted small armed forces who confronted organized militias with greater numbers and power.
In this semi -comedic and sometimes moving story of a little known and long ago crisis, Averill-Snell’s original monologue traces the history of his immigrant ancestor’s rocky arrival in the tenuous grouping of colonies and their subsequent call to arms. He marvels that this group of hardworking farmers picked up their weapons, muskets, picks etc, and marched off under the leadership of General Herkimer in spite of their lack of connection with the elite educated men in Philadelphia who had just declared Independence. Averill-Snell relates the story of General Herkimer and Oriskany with vast knowledge of the details. His research is compelling and also personal as one of the American combatants was his great-great-great-great-grandfather. He strengthens the dramatic narration by using wry humor, ironic comments and contemporary references, but it is the factual account of the battle that is compelling.
It is an ugly story as Averill-Snell notes the numbers of men who died. Both sides – the British loyalists and the American patriots – were abetted by indigenous native tribesmen. Many of the various Indian tribes carried lethal tomahawks, war clubs, spears and other instruments of death while the armies relied on slow reloading muskets. He brings to life the strategies and the violent attacks, occasionally mentioning the actions of specific individuals.
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In a side explanation, he describes the damage a musket ball can do in comparison to a bullet. The ball is much deadlier! In fact Herkimer was struck by a ball in his leg and the ball moved on to kill his horse. Averill -Snell also demonstrates the use of an Iroquois war club which is impressive in its heft and potential threat.
As the playwright/actor delineates the events the story becomes more and more absorbing. The patriots are caught in a ravine and slaughtered by the loyalists. There is a dramatic rescue when a force of 300, led by Benedict Arnold, who was still a brilliant but wily American general, intervenes.
From this point the writer focuses on the fact of the huge number of immigrants who sided with the patriots with virtually little if no knowledge as to why. They felt a call and marched , some of them to their deaths. He goes on to state how these immigrants and descendants have helped to create America. It is a country, he says, that can allow you to be you and to have the opportunity to fulfill the American dream.
Averill’s quirky retelling is augmented by simple props such as slides, overhead projector and the often hysterical interruption of cardboard *asterisks when he wants to digress. His peripatetic energy and timing is masterful.
In sum, the story of the battle of Oriskany and of General Herkimer is a salute to America and the diversity of the people who claimed this concept for themselves.
*There is a town in upstate New York named after Herkimer as well as street and road names across the country.
For the past four years Bridge Street Theatre in Catskill, New York, has opened its summer season with Solofest, a series of original one-act plays usually performed by the playwright. The plays have been comic or dark or revelatory. The next and last production is “Archie Parrish’s Parting Words” written and perfoiemed by Ernest Thomson the author of “On Golden Pond.
“Herkimer! How My Ignorant Immigrant Ancestors Saved America And You Can Too” written and performed by Ned Averill-Snell; Director: Timothy Dunn; Lighting Design: John Sowle; Sound Design: Carmen Borgia; Running time: 80 minutes, no intermission; May 13-15, 2026; Bridge Street Theatre, 45 Bridge Street, Catskill, NY. https://bridgest.org/