“There’s no hate like Christian love.”
With that provocative line, Gretchen Wylder immediately sets the tone for 2026 Salem Witch Trial, a fascinating, infuriating, and surprisingly insightful one-woman show that recently played as part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival. Blending personal storytelling, historical examination, and sharp social commentary, Wylder recounts her ongoing battle with a deeply religious community outside Salem, Massachusetts and the disturbing parallels between her experience and the witch hunts of centuries past.
We were thrilled to attend a performance of 2026 Salem Witch Trial. A huge thank you to Gretchen for having us out!
About 2026 Salem Witch Trial
Gretchen Wylder is a tarot-reading lesbian who, at the time of these events, was living a quietly extraordinary double life. By day, she read tarot cards for clients in Salem, Massachusetts. By night, she returned home to what she describes as a seemingly idyllic cottage community populated by intensely devout Christian neighbors. Neighbors who, it becomes increasingly clear, had organized and coordinated efforts to force her out. (Yes. That is really a thing that happened to her. In the present day. In America.)
What makes 2026 Salem Witch Trial so compelling is that it never settles for being a simple story of persecution. In Wylder’s hands, her personal experience becomes a lens through which to examine larger questions about power, extremism, and the ways religious institutions have historically marginalized those who challenge the status quo. The result is a production that is sharp, darkly funny, and deeply thought-provoking.
Perhaps the show’s most fascinating thread is its exploration of the women whose stories have been minimized, altered, or erased from religious history. Wylder discusses figures such as Mary Magdalene and Lilith (often described in Jewish folklore as Adam’s first wife) and examines how their narratives have evolved or disappeared over time. Through these stories, she highlights longstanding patterns of exclusion and misogyny that continue to influence many religious communities today.
Even as someone who has spent years exploring religious deconstruction and healing from religious trauma, I found myself learning new things throughout the performance. Wylder approaches these subjects with curiosity, wit, and a genuine desire to understand the systems she critiques, making the material accessible even when tackling complex historical and theological topics.
Just as impressive is Wylder herself. Her stage presence is warm, charismatic, and completely magnetic. She effortlessly shifts between humor and heartbreak, weaving together stories of spirituality, identity, resilience, and self-discovery. The show never feels like a lecture or a grievance session. Instead, it feels like sitting down with a brilliant friend who has survived something extraordinary and emerged with both her sense of humor and her sense of self intact.
The pacing remains tight and purposeful throughout, packing an impressive amount of storytelling, research, and reflection into a single hour. By the time the show concludes, audiences are left with plenty to think about and perhaps a few assumptions to reconsider.
Learn More About 2026 Salem Witch Trial
The Hollywood Fringe run of 2026 Salem Witch Trial may have concluded, but the conversation it sparks is far from over. To learn more about the show and explore Gretchen Wylder’s other creative projects, visit her website at gretchenwylder.com.
Whether you’re interested in religious history, social commentary, personal storytelling, or simply a compelling solo performance, 2026 Salem Witch Trial is a production well worth discovering.
