Arthur Miller’s The Crucible is one of those classic plays that many will have studied at school, but for those unfamiliar, it presents a partially-fictionalised account of the Salem witch trials of the late 17th century.
Miller wrote the play in 1953 as an allegory for McCarthyism, where the US government would persecute those accused of being communists; the show takes on a new resonance now, though, in a Trump-era, post-truth political world. We’ve heard the term ‘witch hunt’ bandied around in politics increasingly frequently over the past few years – this new production of The Crucible is a timely reminder of what one of those actually looks like.
It makes for gripping, and sometimes rather haunting, viewing. Erin Doherty (The Crown) plays the role of Abigail Williams, the ringleader of the girls. She leads a talented ensemble – when the girls are performing their hallucinations, it’s genuinely pretty frightening and convincing; it’s certainly not too much of a stretch to see how the judges could have been won over. Many of the cast impress: Eileen Walsh is vulnerable yet determined as Elizabeth Proctor, while Brendan Cowell, as her husband John, is believably earnest.
It’s a very smart production which at times creates a wonderfully immersive sensory experience. Es Devlin’s set is subtly brilliant: water is used for dramatic effect, sparingly but impressively, while Tim Lutkin’s lighting design is nothing short of masterful. We only see the very back of the stage on occasion, but when we do it creates some real ‘wow’ moments. Haunting choral music is used occasionally too, creating a sense of foreboding, which really adds to the atmosphere.
We were thoroughly impressed with this revival of The Crucible; it is convincingly authentic, yet the message at its core feels urgent. For a play that’s nearly 70 years old it feels surprisingly relevant – Lyndsey Turner’s production is well-paced, a joy to look at and contains some impressively-choreographed dramatic moments. Well worth a visit.
GAY TIMES gives The Crucible – 4/5
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