Synopsis

Colonial America, 1759. A baby is abandoned on the doorstep of a brothel, sparking a journey that will span decades and expose the dark underbelly of capitalism’s birth.

The Low Road follows the life of Jim Trumpett, a foundling who claims to be the illegitimate son of George Washington. Raised in a brothel and educated by the works of Adam Smith, Jim’s ruthless pursuit of wealth leads him on a twisted path through colonial America. As he manipulates, cheats, and murders his way to the top, Jim’s actions ripple through the lives of those around him, including his reluctant slave John Blanke, and the idealistic Constance Pugh. Their intertwining stories paint a scathing portrait of greed, racism, and the moral compromises made in the name of progress.

Bruce Norris’ sprawling epic blends historical drama with biting satire, using the birth of capitalism in America as a lens to examine our modern economic system. The play’s structure is boldly theatrical, incorporating narration from Adam Smith himself and leaping across time to draw parallels between past and present. Norris’ dialogue bristles with wit as he skewers the hypocrisy of the powerful and the myth of the self-made man. The Low Road challenges audiences to question the moral foundations of free-market capitalism and the human cost of unchecked greed.