Here’s an official announcement that my play, THE PASSION OF MARY is now published by Off The Wall Plays (UK, South Africa): http://offthewallplays.com/2018/05/02/the-passion-of-mary-american-historical-religious-play-quakers/
To perform THE PASSION OF MARY, please contact my publisher, Demmer Dewan at admin@offthewallplays.com.
It’s the story of Mary Dyer coming of age. She gains confidence as she battles for respect for her beliefs.
THE PASSION OF MARY:
Three Act Drama,
“It wasn’t just witches they were hanging, but their own.” The story of Quaker Mary Dyer, who was hanged by Puritans in the Boston Commonwealth in the 1600s.
The Passion of Mary, Synopsis
Forty years before the Salem witch trials, Massachusetts’ Puritans were hanging other Christians for slight differences of opinion. The play THE PASSION OF MARY details the importance of the Separation of Church and State in early America through the battles and life story of a young woman that builds self-awareness and confidence while keeping her sense of humor intact.
Featuring a cast of historical characters including early leaders Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson, plus England’s Lord Oliver Cromwell, the play starts as Mary buries her child that was stillborn and disfigured. Within weeks Mary’s world crumbles, first seeing her best friend kicked out of Boston where they had settled for over 16 years. Then the colony’s leaders discover the dead baby, and publicize to the entire community that Mary gave birth to a monster. She, too, is excommunicated, and scorned by her neighbors.
Mary ends up in Providence, Rhode Island, with others that were kicked out of Boston. The open-minded Roger Williams invites Mary to visit England with him. It is their hope to create a positive relationship with the Native Americans that live in the new colony.
In England, Mary becomes versed in the loving deeds of Quaker beliefs, and helps soothe the country’s leader Lord Oliver Cromwell through his many fears. Though respected in England, she wants to return home to the new world where her family lives.
Upon her return, Mary's ship lands in Boston where the Puritans have declared the Quaker religion as illegal. She is arrested. Because her husband still has political ties with the Commonwealth, she is set free and ordered to never return. Mary returns, and is arrested yet again. One of her party is put to death. Mary's husband, who has been fighting to keep his wife at home, realizes the Puritans' cruelty, and finally offers his blessing for Mary to return again. His support allows her to sacrifice her life for religious freedom.
Upon Mary's death, she is welcomed to the afterlife by her child, the one that the leaders of Boston referred to as a “monster.”
Anne Leighton, Playwright
Playwright Anne Leighton was inspired by the struggles of Mary Dyer coming of age and fighting for religious freedom in early America, plus by Arthur Miller’s play, THE CRUCIBLE. Anne believes that people—including women— can define themselves and create legacies. Her legacy includes a range of works including plays (REACH FOR THE SUN and the Jacob C. Hamer-winning ONE WAY TO HEAVEN), magazine articles for music, martial arts, and cat fans, and producing the Christmas song “Got My Eye On You, Santa.” She appears on the GRAMMY-nominated album, HEALTHY FOOD FOR THOUGHT. Anne’s books are: THE LEIGHTON EXPLOSION, the e-book: GET THE GIG: COMMON SENSE CAREER CONSULTING, USING YOUR ART AND THE MEDIA TO COMFORT PEOPLE, and PAWS FOR THOUGHT: HOW TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR CAT IS THINKING. 