Overview
A visceral exploration of “original sin,” Kate Hamill’s highly-theatrical, vital reimagining of The Scarlet Letter follows strong-willed, intelligent Hester Prynne as she tries to find her own moral compass and raise her daughter in a society that harshly punishes women for independent thought, sexuality, or defiance. Hester and the other Massachusetts Bay colonists—including her guilt-ridden lover and her estranged husband—struggle with their own deeply-ingrained shame, as they debate what transgressions might truly be “unforgivable”… and learn how violence, superstition, repression, and uncomfortable truths may shape the land that will become America.
Casting & Production
Casting
HESTER PRYNNE
Mid 20s-late 30s. Intelligent, strong-willed. A survivor under extreme circumstances. Quite beautiful, which gives her more power (and trouble) than she might otherwise have. Capable of standing up to extreme pressure. Passionate. Nursing a terrible heartache. Not immune to the fears and superstitions of the culture around her. Fears the consequences of her sins. Sometimes unsure of her child’s origins, in a superstitious way. Survives and forgives, ultimately, although she is not without anger. A loving, if sometimes overextended and over-exasperated parent. Eventually learns to overcome the mores of her time, at great personal cost; brave, but not perfect.
GOODY HIBBINS
40s. The governor’s younger wife. Quite unhappy. Very religious. Fearful of the new country and dark Satanic forces, which she believes are all around her. Bitterly disappointed in life, and clings to dogma as a life raft. Almost Hester’s contemporary. Deeply self-loathing, under everything—which makes her vicious. Desperately wants a child. Tries hard to be Good and Righteous. Quite obsessed with Hester Prynne.
PEARL
4-5 years old. May be played by an adult but my STRONG preference is that this be played by an adult puppeteer with puppet, please see Notes. An extremely spirited, impish child. Not so much “cute” as a child who takes an almost disturbing, otherwordly-level of Delight in being bad or disobedient. Half-feral. Dark side. Prone to repeating what she hears. The kind of child who, if you turn your back for half a second, will roll in a mud puddle and herd their siblings into a “prison” with sharpened stick. Not actually malevolent, probably. Precocious. Does like attention.
REVEREND DIMMESDALE
Mid 20s-early 30s—preferably slightly younger than Hester. A man raised to the clergy, of very deep and genuine faith. Quite handsome. Passionate. A powerful and emotional preacher. Worshipped by his congregation. Not particularly good with children. A good man, but up against the forces of his culture and his weaknesses, he sometimes quails (but who does not?). Believes that he has sinned irrevocably, and that God will punish those sins. Develops a serious heart condition. Wants to believe. Tortured. In love with Hester.
ROGER CHILLINGWORTH
Late 40s-50s. Deeply, deeply intelligent, with a wicked sense of humor. Dark; often wry. Not unreasonable, in his way. Has secrets in his past; has done terrible things. Can be charming. Very good with children. Has a deep psychic wound, which he can find no relief for. Once was very very much in love with Hester—possibly still is, deep deep down—and cannot reconcile his betrayal. A good physician. A very dangerous man, but you wouldn’t know it to look at him – he’s got the air of a completely ordinary man, or even a very harmless one.
GOVERNOR HIBBINS
40s-50s. The governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony. Fond of making speeches. Believes that he has been chosen to rule by God; this is not always pleasant or easy for him. Feels himself obligated by duty to be harsher than he might actually be. Has a weakness for pretty things and little luxuries. Particularly friendly towards men, and tolerant of “good” women. A bit—a lot—frightened of his wife. Fairly clueless, really.
Setting
Place
Massachusetts Bay Colony
Time
1640s
