You can't make a visit to Salem and ignore the Witch Trial history. There are reminders everywhere. But, if you are looking for an interesting way to learn about it, going to see Cry Innocent is a must! This interactive performance starts in the town square where Bridget Bishop is accused of practicing witchcraft and taken away to the town hall. Attendees of the performance are actually brought to the town hall with her, where they discover they are to determine if Bridget Bishop should be given a trial on the charges of witchcraft! Based on the true account of Bridget Bishop, the jury learns what really happened on that fateful day and decides for themselves if she is guilty of witchcraft!
We were able to experience this for ourselves during our visit this weekend. This performance takes place in the historical Old Town Hall and people of all ages are welcome to participate. My kids really liked this part of our visit. My son was able to hold the keys to her shackles during the hearing. We all got to ask questions of the witnesses as we learned of their documented accounts. Then, of course, they loved deciding what should become of Bridget. Before the performance began, they loved seeing the performers interacting with the crowd and then hearing the news that Bridget Bishop had been charged with witchcraft, as she was standing right next to them when it was announced. Her arrest was exciting and they couldn't wait to see what the rest of the hearing would bring. Based on the accounts that we heard--Bridget Bishop didn't seem so nice!--we decided that she should most definitely be put on trial, but others in the audience did not agree and they decided to let her free for another day.
This is definitely a fun experience for history lovers when visiting the town of Salem! To order tickets to see a performance of Cry Innocent, and for more information, visit their site.
