Anna Maria Trusky’s new play is called “A Multitude of Sins,” and the set-up is this: it’s 1667, and Louis XIV loves flowing fake hair, which has in turn inspired a wig craze. The problem for wigmaker Maximilian and assistant Theo: competition for customers and supplies. Max meets with a childhood friend — who has since become a brothel madam — and that prompts a diversification of Max's product line, so to speak.

Trusky says that she had wanted to write a farcical play about merkins (which are artificial coverings of hair for the pubic area) because she thought it was a funny topic and she’d never seen a play dealing with that. She researched wigmaking and the era and even worked into the storyline characters based on real people — including Moliere.

Trusky’s play, described as a comic tragedy, will be staged this weekend and next at the Norwich Arts Center.

Trusky directs, and the cast features Nathan Rumney, Michael Vernon Davis, Alyson Fowler, Heather Spiegel Auden, Corey Gonzales, Rayah Martin, Alyssa Christian, Mark Lowe, Evan Brown, Wayne Trembly, Jonathan Demers and Dave Carter. Guitarist Tony Stephen will play incidental improvised Baroque music throughout the show.

“A Multitude of Sins” is recommended for ages 16 and up only; there are adult themes and language.

“A Multitude of Sins,” opens Fri. and runs through July 22, Norwich Arts Center, 60-64 Broadway, Norwich; 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays; there is an audience talk-back after the July 15 performance; $18, $17 for seniors, veterans and students, $15 for NAC members; reservations encouraged; (860) 887-2789.