The Witch of Edmonton

Thomas Dekker

Read by LibriVox Volunteers

Mother Elizabeth Sawyer is a poor, lonely, and unfairly ostracized old woman with nothing left to lose. Frank is a poor farmer who intends to marry his beloved Winnifred, who is pregnant with his child, but is pressured to marry Susan, the rich yeoman's daughter. Young Cuddy Banks is a clown who pines after a girl who doesn't love him. When Mother Sawyer turns to witchcraft after being unjustly accused of it, a talking devil-dog named Tom (performed by a human actor) comes to her aid, becoming her familiar and only friend. Though she intends to get her revenge, little does she know many of those around her are only too willing to sell their souls to the devil all by themselves. The play was inspired by the real-life story of Elizabeth Sawyer, who had been executed for witchcraft on 19 April 1621, and draws heavily on a pamphlet by Henry Goodcole, The wonderful discoverie of Elizabeth Sawyer, Witch (1621). While the pamphlet may be very ready to capitalize on the sensational story of a witch and portray Sawyer as simply a bad woman, the play does not permit an easy and comfortable demonization of her. It presents her as a product of society rather than an anomaly in it. - Summary by Mary Kay

Cast
Narrator: LydiaCW
Mother Elizabeth Sawyer: Elizabby
Anne: Newgatenovelist
Susan: Kitty
Katherine: Kristingj
Winnifred: gloriana
Sir Arthur Clarington: Hamlet
Old Thorney / Hamluc: unreadpages
Carter: ToddHW
Warbeck: jburlinson
Somerton: Salvationist
Frank Thorney: Dave in the Fax
Old Banks: alanmapstone
Cuddy Banks: BlueFunk
Dog, aka Tom: RobBoard
Ratcliffe: McFarlane
Justice / Constable: dlolso21
First Clown / First Countryman: Khaghbboommm
Second Clown / Second Countryman: catrose
Third Clown / Third Countryman: leanneyauyau
Fourth Clown / Sawgut: Hamlet
Edited by: carteki and linny (2 hr 24 min)

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