The Trial of Anne Hutchinson

By: Theodore Nottingham

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

This stage play takes place in Boston in the year 1638 and tells the story of Anne Hutchinson, a colonial woman from the settlement of Jamestown whose independence and spiritual insights were hundreds of years ahead of her time.
Despite the historical distance, the themes of this drama are very contemporary: the abuse of a strong-willed, brilliant woman in a male- dominated society; the hypocrisy of power-hungry clergy; personal experience versus rigid dogma.
The plot centers around the trial in which Anne Hutchinson is ultimately excommunicated and banished from the colony for her opinions.
The essence of the dialogue in the trial scenes is taken from transcripts of the actual events.