Musical ~ Approx. 90 min
Synopsis
Perpetua was around 21 years old when she was arrested for illegally practicing Christianity in Rome’s second-largest city, Carthage (North Africa). Mother to an infant son and daughter to a devoted pagan father, she became one of the earliest known female authors when she smuggled her diary out of prison. This musical is adapted from her own account, dating from around 203 AD, and portrays a faith both heartbreakingly honest and relentlessly joyful.
Characters
Written for 12-15 actors; some male characters may be played as female; adapted scripts available for such changes.
- PERPETUA (F), 20-21 — a young Christian, mezzo
- FELICITAS (F,) 20s-30s — her fellow Christian and fellow prisoner, an enslaved servant, soprano
- REVOCATUS (M), 20s-50s — her fellow Christian and fellow prisoner, enslaved, tenor/baritone
- SECUNDULUS (M), 14-25 — her fellow Christian and fellow prisoner, tenor/baritone
- SATURNINUS (M), 14-25 — her fellow Christian and fellow prisoner, tenor/baritone
- SATURUS (M), 40s-60s — their fellow prisoner and teacher, tenor/baritone
- ASINIUS (M), 20s-30s Perpetua’s elder brother, also a Christian, tenor
- FATHER (originally M; this role may be switched to “mother”), 50s-70s — Perpetua’s aging father, a pagan
- POMPONIUS (originally M; This role may be switched to “Pomponia,” as female deacons were ordained at the time), 40s-70s — a deacon
- PUDENS (M), 30s-50s — the chief official of the arena prison, tenor/baritone
- HILARION (M), 30s-50s — the governor (non-singing role)
- DINOCRATES/AULUS (M), 7 — young boy, Perpetua’s brother/son
- SOLDIERS, VARIOUS CHARACTERS IN VISIONS, VARIOUS OTHERS, may be doubled from cast
