WITCH HUNT

by Carol Lashof

"Telling stories to children -- is that witchcraft?"

February 1692. Salem Village, Massachusetts. Tituba, her husband John, and their infant daughter live uneasily as enslaved Indians in the Puritan household of the Reverend Samuel Parris. It’s the coldest New England winter in memory, the minister’s salary has not been paid, and firewood is in short supply. To comfort herself and nine-year old Betty Parris...

"Telling stories to children -- is that witchcraft?"

February 1692. Salem Village, Massachusetts. Tituba, her husband John, and their infant daughter live uneasily as enslaved Indians in the Puritan household of the Reverend Samuel Parris. It’s the coldest New England winter in memory, the minister’s salary has not been paid, and firewood is in short supply. To comfort herself and nine-year old Betty Parris, Tituba tells stories from her childhood, magical stories to offer an escape from the present, but they raise the suspicions of Betty’s mother, Elizabeth. In the meantime, fighting between colonists and Indians in nearby Maine is worsening. Already there are refugees from earlier Indian wars living in Salem Village, including Betty’s eleven-year-old cousin Abigail, who suffers from night terrors and a racking cough. Now, Betty begins to show the same symptoms, and rumors spread that the girls are possessed. Tituba is one of the first to be arrested under suspicion of witchcraft. In a desperate act to save herself and her family, she chooses to “confess.” Tituba’s false testimony sets the members of the Puritan community against one another. The accusations multiply, the jail cells fill, and the condemned are sent to the gallows. Ultimately, before the fury burns itself out, twenty women and men are executed for witchcraft, and several more die in jail. At the height of the panic, 150 people were packed into the jail with Tituba. Now, in the spring of 1693, only she remains, because no one has yet paid her jail fees. “Telling stories to children – is that witchcraft?” she wonders. And what if it’s true? What if she is a witch? Then she can conjure whatever ending she wants to this story.

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WITCH HUNT

Recommended by

  • Leigh Curran: WITCH HUNT by Carol Lashof
    “

    I was struck by Carol's masterful use of story telling to communicate tender connections, insights, fears, superstitions and the freedom that arises from a simple act of imagination. And under all this, the insidious ways suspicion and hatred are perpetuated on the storyteller, Tituba, an indigenous American slave with a loving, forthright heart who is unable to be anyone but herself. I had no idea how the Salem Witch Trials began but I totally bought Carol's interpretation of events - right up to the powerful, heartbreaking end. A highly relevant, compassionate play with great roles for a...

    I was struck by Carol's masterful use of story telling to communicate tender connections, insights, fears, superstitions and the freedom that arises from a simple act of imagination. And under all this, the insidious ways suspicion and hatred are perpetuated on the storyteller, Tituba, an indigenous American slave with a loving, forthright heart who is unable to be anyone but herself. I had no idea how the Salem Witch Trials began but I totally bought Carol's interpretation of events - right up to the powerful, heartbreaking end. A highly relevant, compassionate play with great roles for a diverse cast!

    read more
    ”
  • Michaela Goldhaber: WITCH HUNT by Carol Lashof
    “

    I wish I could have seen Witch Hunt in high school when I was first learning about the Salem Witch Trials, but I am thrilled to encounter it now. Feminist reconsidering of history at its best, the play centers on Tituba, the enslaved indigenous American woman who was the first accused of witchcraft in 1692. Tender scenes of Tituba telling stories to her master’s children are contrasted with fierce persecution by her own community. Witch Hunt is theatrical, lyrical, and provides delicious roles for a diverse cast.

    I wish I could have seen Witch Hunt in high school when I was first learning about the Salem Witch Trials, but I am thrilled to encounter it now. Feminist reconsidering of history at its best, the play centers on Tituba, the enslaved indigenous American woman who was the first accused of witchcraft in 1692. Tender scenes of Tituba telling stories to her master’s children are contrasted with fierce persecution by her own community. Witch Hunt is theatrical, lyrical, and provides delicious roles for a diverse cast.

    ”
  • Erin Merritt: WITCH HUNT by Carol Lashof
    “

    This timely and very well-written play presents a totally game-changing look at Tituba's story that both helps correct the historical record and centers her agency (and lack thereof) within the events. This sensitive yet galvanizing portrayal provides wonderful roles for Native actors, repositions the girls within their actual (pre-teen) age range, and reminds us that the witch hunts are not metaphors for racism, misogyny and “other”-blaming in our modern era but that racism, misogyny and “other”-blaming are an integral part of the fabric of this country with which we all must reckon...

    This timely and very well-written play presents a totally game-changing look at Tituba's story that both helps correct the historical record and centers her agency (and lack thereof) within the events. This sensitive yet galvanizing portrayal provides wonderful roles for Native actors, repositions the girls within their actual (pre-teen) age range, and reminds us that the witch hunts are not metaphors for racism, misogyny and “other”-blaming in our modern era but that racism, misogyny and “other”-blaming are an integral part of the fabric of this country with which we all must reckon. Beautiful and shattering.

    read more
    ”
View all 4 recommendations

Character Information

CHARACTERS:
TITUBA, an Arawak Indian woman, mid to late twenties.
JOHN, an Indigenous or mixed race man (nationality unknown), mid to late twenties.
MARY SIBLEY, an English colonist, early thirties.
ELIZABETH PARRIS, an English colonist, early forties.
SAMUEL PARRIS, an English colonist, late thirties.
BETTY PARRIS, an English colonist, nine. [Played by an adult.]

The four actors playing English colonists also constitute the ENSEMBLE and play other members of the Salem Village community. Assigning roles indicated as “ENSEMBLE: [CHARACTER NAME]” is at the discretion of the director.
  • Mary
    30s
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Tituba
    20s-30s
    Indigenous Latinx
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • John
    20s-30s
    Indigenous or mixed race
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Samuel
    30s-40s
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
  • Elizabeth
    30s-40s
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Betty
    9
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female

Production History

  • Professional, Those Women Productions, 2019

Awards

  • Rella Lossy Award
    Theatre Bay Area
    Finalist
    2019