The Crucible
The Crucible
By Arthur Miller
Directed by Donald Rupe
Starring David Lowe, Tim Bass and Frank Casado
Central Florida Community Arts
Presented at First Christian Church, Orlando, FL</strong>
Written in response to the Joe McCarthy Witch hunts, “The Crucible” remains a difficult and troubling look at the mass hysteria that erupts in all society from time to time. Underlying the hysteria are economic and personal problems; here Reverend Perris (David Lowe) is underpaid and over worked by the litigious people of 1674 Salem Mass. Local landowner Thomas Putnam (Quentin Prior) looks to expand his land holding on the cheap, and a neighbor convicted for witch craft will lose their life and property, with the land auctioned to the highest bidder. Any descendants are left bankrupt. Some local girls have an adventure in the woods, and their play is interpreted as a witch’s dance in a time when the devil worship was serious business. An accusation is impossible to defend against: confession meant death, and denial meant torture until confession. John Proctor (Casado) is an easy mark; he lives five miles out of town, doesn’t get along with Rev. Parris, and gasp(!) only walks to church once a month. Clearly a sinner beyond redemption. He also had a fling with a serving girl Abigail, but while that’s over he lives in a brittle peace with his wife Elizabeth (Kayle Kelsay Morales). One thing leads to another and soon half the town is in jail on charges of witchcraft. Overbearing Deputy Governor Danforth (Bass) arrives to browbeat confessions out of them all; he must have a quota to fill. But the accusation and counter accusation are based on constantly shifting testimony; he’d be glad to condemn the lot to hang, but then he’d have to string up the last one himself.
This is a minimal yet intense show, and most of the actors operate at eleven on this mostly bare set. Smoke billows out from under the stage; if you’re seated on the south wall front row expect a small brush fires worth of inhalation. No one is played for depth: Casado’s’ John Proctor is moody and intense; Morales’ Elizabeth is forgiving yet condescending. As a minister, Lowe snivels with great enthusiasm, and while Bass works to harangue the Salemites into salvation, when he fails he writes it off to God’s mysterious plans. Death comes to those unlucky enough to be standing in the wrong place, and this was certainly the wrong time. Rationality is in short supply; exceptions include the hapless Tituba (Shanteria Strowbridge), the Barbadian slave and the amateur lawyer Giles Corey (Allan Whitehead). Occasional Bible verses flash up in the end wall in small print; despite this, salvation and forgiveness were not in evidence tonight; this church is ruled by that cranky pants God the early Old Testament.
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