The Crucible

Arthur Miller’s account of the “Salem Witch Trials” in colonial Massachusetts between 1692–93, is an allegorical play which points to the climate of hysteria surrounding McCarthyism in the 1950s.

The Crucible is a heavy, cheerless play, principally about, honour, power and its abuses. When Miller was called to testify before the “Un-American Activities Commission” in 1956, he was sentenced to a year in gaol for contempt of Congress, for refusing to name names. The conviction was eventually over-turned on appeal.

While Miller was at pains to point out The Crucible (1953) is not strictly historical, some characters, including Reverend Parris and Tituba, were actual people involved in the proceedings - arguably the most notorious episode in mass hysteria in US history.

The current MTC production conveys the hysterical context well. David Wenham (John Procter), Anita Hegh (Elizabeth Procter), and Julia Blake (Rebecca Nurse) thrive in an impressive cast who travel the journey with their characters convincingly, from the troubled beginning to the tragically desperate close. The cast’s stamina in such a demanding play must be acknowledged.

The dark, and quite sensational, soundtrack infuses this production with more gravitas, and heightens our sense of impending doom. Period turns-of-phrase, while wonderful, make hearing difficult at times. The intensely layered line delivery and swift curtain drop during final lines of each act add to the intensity.

Set design is plain and extraordinary, consisting of free-standing white walls and pitched roofs that, somewhat appropriately, appear to defy gravity. Arranged variously to describe the four acts, their simplicity in such a long play leaves the audience with little joy in the visual department, especially given the nod to period costume in rustic tones.

The Crucible will be captioned on Saturday 20^th July (2pm), and audio described for those with visual impairment on Tuesday 23^rd July (6.30pm) and Saturday 27^th July (2pm). The performance is shy of three-hours, including a twenty-minute interval.

Avid lovers of classic plays and readers of history will appreciate what is an accomplished and forceful production.  

Lucy Graham

Image: David Wenham (John Proctor), John McTernan (Giles Corey), Greg Stone (Reverend Parris), Sarah Ogden (Mary Warren), Grant Cartwright (Reverend John Hale), Brian Lipson (Deputy Governor Danforth), Paul English (Thomas Putnam), Elizabeth Nabben (Abigail Williams), Amanda McGregor (Betty), Edwina Samuels (Mercy Lewis). Photographer: Jeff Busby.