Outside/open work
The Crucible explores the timeless question of morality
This review won first place honors in the Journalism Day at the Guthrie Review contest.
The dark blues and blacks of twilight light up the thrust stage, casting an eerie light on the trees that loom over the audience, fog drifting around the feet of the actors as they chant, spin, and dance to an ominous tune only they know. “The Crucible” at the Guthrie, portrayed by a cast of over 20 actors, tells a story steeped in raw human emotion and vitality. Director Joe Dowling’s suspenseful, witty vision, combined with the cast’s beautifully honest portrayal of humorous, yet often dangerously flawed characters engages the audience for the entirety of this play. Despite the seriousness of the plot, “The Crucible” is nothing less than stunning.
Set in 1692, Arthur Miller’s play, “The Crucible” tells the story of the townsfolk that live in Salem during a time where fear of witchcraft leads to life-threatening accusations, as petty jealousies and arguments take precedence over innocence in the courtroom. John Proctor (Erik Heger) struggles with his own morality and sense of justice as his own wife, Elizabeth (Michelle O’Neill) is accused of being a witch by Abigail Williams (Chloe Armao), a young woman he had an affair with. As paranoia overwhelms the town, no one is free from suspicion, and hundreds of women are accused of engaging in witchcraft: as Reverend Hale says, “Nothing’s left to stop the whole green world from burning.”
Suspense builds from the very first act of “The Crucible,” as young women are found dancing in the middle of the woods, supposedly consorting with the devil. Although this play has its share of solemn moments, as many innocent women face the death penalty, the subtle, but clever humor scattered throughout the script lightens the atmosphere at just the right times, drawing laughter and allowing the audience to relate to the characters as three-dimensional, terribly honest beings. By creating the perfect balance between wit and terrifying tension, the cast of “The Crucible” lets the audience empathize with the character’s emotions in all their glory.
Dowling’s exceptional use of space, as a way to convey emotion, by having the actors pace, scamper, or stomp along the length of the stage when appropriate connects the audience with the story on a whole new level. The lighting, sometimes dark and frightening, at other times mellow and sweet, also corresponds with the intensity of each scene, allowing tension to build beautifully. Changing their volume and timbre, subtly but effectively is also a skill the cast excelled at; this was best employed by Michelle O’Neill, who portrays Elizabeth Proctor as a noble, sweet woman that every audience member is rooting for, and Erik Heger, who manages to make John Proctor seem, with his blunt commentary and brash manner, like a man fully redeemed by the end of the show.
Heger also illustrated John Proctor’s moral struggle brilliantly, as he tried to decide whether to lie and save himself, or remain with the righteous and accept the death penalty for supposedly dabbling in witchery. “The Crucible” explores questions of shady morality, pride, and true courage as the century-old debate of whether the right thing to do is really worth it, in the end, resurfaces, one of the many aspects of this play that makes it truly timeless. The cast of “The Crucible” at the Guthrie will captivate audiences with their wonderful chemistry and raw talent; revitalizing an exquisite classic that will engage any audience, both emotionally and intellectually.
Photo Credit: Fair use image from the Guthrie website
This review won first place honors in the Journalism Day at the Guthrie Review contest.
The dark blues and blacks of twilight light up the thrust stage, casting an eerie light on the trees that loom over the audience, fog drifting around the feet of the actors as they chant, spin, and dance to an ominous tune only they know. “The Crucible” at the Guthrie, portrayed by a cast of over 20 actors, tells a story steeped in raw human emotion and vitality. Director Joe Dowling’s suspenseful, witty vision, combined with the cast’s beautifully honest portrayal of humorous, yet often dangerously flawed characters engages the audience for the entirety of this play. Despite the seriousness of the plot, “The Crucible” is nothing less than stunning.
Set in 1692, Arthur Miller’s play, “The Crucible” tells the story of the townsfolk that live in Salem during a time where fear of witchcraft leads to life-threatening accusations, as petty jealousies and arguments take precedence over innocence in the courtroom. John Proctor (Erik Heger) struggles with his own morality and sense of justice as his own wife, Elizabeth (Michelle O’Neill) is accused of being a witch by Abigail Williams (Chloe Armao), a young woman he had an affair with. As paranoia overwhelms the town, no one is free from suspicion, and hundreds of women are accused of engaging in witchcraft: as Reverend Hale says, “Nothing’s left to stop the whole green world from burning.”
Suspense builds from the very first act of “The Crucible,” as young women are found dancing in the middle of the woods, supposedly consorting with the devil. Although this play has its share of solemn moments, as many innocent women face the death penalty, the subtle, but clever humor scattered throughout the script lightens the atmosphere at just the right times, drawing laughter and allowing the audience to relate to the characters as three-dimensional, terribly honest beings. By creating the perfect balance between wit and terrifying tension, the cast of “The Crucible” lets the audience empathize with the character’s emotions in all their glory.
Dowling’s exceptional use of space, as a way to convey emotion, by having the actors pace, scamper, or stomp along the length of the stage when appropriate connects the audience with the story on a whole new level. The lighting, sometimes dark and frightening, at other times mellow and sweet, also corresponds with the intensity of each scene, allowing tension to build beautifully. Changing their volume and timbre, subtly but effectively is also a skill the cast excelled at; this was best employed by Michelle O’Neill, who portrays Elizabeth Proctor as a noble, sweet woman that every audience member is rooting for, and Erik Heger, who manages to make John Proctor seem, with his blunt commentary and brash manner, like a man fully redeemed by the end of the show.
Heger also illustrated John Proctor’s moral struggle brilliantly, as he tried to decide whether to lie and save himself, or remain with the righteous and accept the death penalty for supposedly dabbling in witchery. “The Crucible” explores questions of shady morality, pride, and true courage as the century-old debate of whether the right thing to do is really worth it, in the end, resurfaces, one of the many aspects of this play that makes it truly timeless. The cast of “The Crucible” at the Guthrie will captivate audiences with their wonderful chemistry and raw talent; revitalizing an exquisite classic that will engage any audience, both emotionally and intellectually.
Photo Credit: Fair use image from the Guthrie website