The Birthing Pit by William J. Meyer

They followed the blood. And the blood followed the gold.

At the end of the American Revolutionary War, John and Castella flee a mysterious pestilence in the Caribbean.

But as they sail home during a supernatural storm, the condemned Atabei kills the ship’s captain— and tragedy stalks all three.

A Gothic Romance at the end of the American Revolutionary War.
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The Birthing Pit

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Character Information

There are four speaking parts: two women, one man, and a singer-- but there are four other characters only seen and heard by the main characters (Captain, Porter, Sailors, Celestina). Their actions and dialogue are indicated in the script with italics, for the actors’ benefit only.

  • Atabei
    20-30,
    Taino
    ,
    woman
    A farmer from Puerto Rico.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American, Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Castella
    20-30,
    White
    ,
    woman
    A novelist from Rhode Island.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • John
    20-30,
    White
    ,
    Man
    A doctor from Rhode Island.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Singer
    Any, Older preferred,
    Any
    ,
    Any
    A chorus-like figure, only seen and heard by the audience. The Singer sings shanties from the era.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • Ninety-Nine Women
    Adults,
    Any
    ,
    woman
    Women living in the pit. Unseen, only heard. Can be achieved as sound design.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Independent (Full Version, Early Draft)
    ,
    2017

Production History

  • Fringe
    ,
    Hollywood Fringe Festival (Truncated Version, Early Draft)
    ,
    2017