The Public Theater

This play was Suzan-Lori Parks’ second work inspired by themes from Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter.

Hester Smith is an abortionist, legal but outcast in the small island country where she lives and forced to wear the letter “A” branded on her chest. She works ceaselessly to pay for the release of her son from jail, where he was taken as a boy after being accused of stealing by the daughter of the rich family for whom Hester cleaned house. Many years later the rich girl has become the childless wife of the Mayor, the First Lady, and Hester's friend Canary Mary is the Mayor’s mistress. When Hester is informed that her son has died in prison, she takes her revenge by aborting the child of the First Lady who has finally succeeded in becoming pregnant. However, she has unwittingly killed her own grandchild; her son had escaped from prison and impregnated the First Lady. After being caught and severely wounded by government hunters, Hester’s son returns to her and she gives him the only thing she can- a mercifully swift death.

This production received Drama League Award nominations for Distinguished Production of a Play and Distinguished Performance (Mos Def and S. Epatha Merkerson), as well as Lucille Lortel Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress (S. Epatha Merkerson), Outstanding Featured Actor (Mos Def), and Outstanding Featured Actress (Daphne Rubin-Vega).