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How to stymie a swotty Puritan judge
Aug. 18th, 2007 07:15 pm...or at least leave the actor playing him fumbling for a quick and adequate reply.
I had the very good fortune to attend "Cry Innocent", one of Salem's most incredible attractions, a re-enactment of the trial of Bridget Bishop, the first person to be hanged during the Salem Witch Hysteria. Years ago, when my folks and I were on our way to what is now the Peabody-Essex Museum (the Essex Institute at that time...), I remember witnessing the arrest re-enactment, which takes place on the pedestrian mall section of Essex Street: I was a kid at the time and it kind of startled me then, till I realized what was going on. Today, I actually tried to interfere with the arrest, stage-thwapping an audience member who'd been roped into helping haul her away to the courthouse (the old town hall in Derby Square).
I love how the production is set up: the audience gets to question the witnesses and even Bridget herself (be careful if you do: if the real Bridget Bishop was anything like the way the actress portrayed her, she was every bit as bitchy as some of the old ladies who make my job at work even more burdensome than it is). Me, I went for the kill: I bypassed the witnesses and questioned John Hathorne himself, since I considered all the testimony given to be very suspect and the witnesses lacking in judgement. I even went so far as to offer myself in her place since -- my words -- "I'm one of those filthy Papist-Catholics. Come on, bite me! You know you wanna...." That's when the poor guy playing Justice Hathorne had to fumble a moment for an adequate reply.
Much more to come: I've got a bit of a headache and supper's almost ready.
I had the very good fortune to attend "Cry Innocent", one of Salem's most incredible attractions, a re-enactment of the trial of Bridget Bishop, the first person to be hanged during the Salem Witch Hysteria. Years ago, when my folks and I were on our way to what is now the Peabody-Essex Museum (the Essex Institute at that time...), I remember witnessing the arrest re-enactment, which takes place on the pedestrian mall section of Essex Street: I was a kid at the time and it kind of startled me then, till I realized what was going on. Today, I actually tried to interfere with the arrest, stage-thwapping an audience member who'd been roped into helping haul her away to the courthouse (the old town hall in Derby Square).
I love how the production is set up: the audience gets to question the witnesses and even Bridget herself (be careful if you do: if the real Bridget Bishop was anything like the way the actress portrayed her, she was every bit as bitchy as some of the old ladies who make my job at work even more burdensome than it is). Me, I went for the kill: I bypassed the witnesses and questioned John Hathorne himself, since I considered all the testimony given to be very suspect and the witnesses lacking in judgement. I even went so far as to offer myself in her place since -- my words -- "I'm one of those filthy Papist-Catholics. Come on, bite me! You know you wanna...." That's when the poor guy playing Justice Hathorne had to fumble a moment for an adequate reply.
Much more to come: I've got a bit of a headache and supper's almost ready.