The Scarlet Stigma: A Drama in Four Acts

Set in the bustling streets of 1668 Boston, this four‑act drama thrusts listeners into a world of strict Puritan law, tavern revelry, and whispered scandal. From the opening scene in a crowded tavern, the play captures the clash between fervent morality and the raw humanity of sailors, innkeepers, and councilors as they gossip about a looming trial for alleged bastardy. The lively dialogue grounds the story in its historic setting while hinting at deeper questions about guilt and reputation.

At the heart of the drama is a young clergyman whose inner turmoil spirals into vivid hallucinations, including a personified Satan that haunts his conscience. His confidant, a physician, watches the descent with a mixture of scientific curiosity and compassion, probing the strange phenomenon of “stigmatization” that blurs the line between spiritual sin and mental affliction. As accusations surface and loyalties are tested, the audience is invited to contemplate how society’s harsh judgments can echo long after the original transgression.