Zina: the Slave Girl; or, Which the Traitor?

In the smoky streets of Mobile, a young slave girl named Zina carries a heavy carpet‑bag, her eyes haunted by the cruelty of her master and the relentless beat of the whip. When the genteel Southern gentleman Martelle d’Arneaux spots her, he offers a glimmer of hope—buying her freedom and welcoming her into his cottage. Zina, torn between fear of retribution and the yearning for a life beyond bondage, confides her desperation in a whispered plea, revealing a talent for song and a mind sharper than her circumstances suggest.

Surrounding her are a cast of conflicted figures: the ruthless trader Keele Brightly, the hard‑hearted General Sherman, and a grieving mother whose kindness once taught Zina to read and sing. As the first act unfolds, the drama balances the harsh realities of slavery with the fragile promise of redemption, inviting listeners to feel the tension between duty, compassion, and the courage required to choose a different path.