The Stage

The Crucible

Published Monday 6 March 2006 at 16:05 by Peta David

A group of drunken women dancing naked in the woods late one night starts off rumours of witch-craft and devil-worshipping in the little village of Salem and so begins the witch hunt that ultimately leads to the torture and the execution of innocent men and women.

Although the play revolves around a 17-century historical event, Arthur Miller wrote it in America in the fifties, at a time when intimidation and persecution of anyone with affiliations with Communism was rife. Those who did not disclose the names of other communist sympathisers were blacklisted and their lives made intolerable. In this context, Miller’s play became an act of resistance, in which he attacked contemporary attitudes using a historical parallel.

Iain Glen plays the pivotal role of John Proctor with empathy and consideration. He gallantly defends his wife, played by the self-assured Helen Schlesinger, for supping with the devil but then he too is exposed as a sinner for not attending church regularly and other misdemeanours. Ian Gelder is excellent as the virtuous Reverend Parris, who has perfected the art of whipping up a storm of discontent amongst his parishioners, turning neighbour against neighbour.

Elaine Cassidy plays the feisty Abigail, who seduces and menaces John Proctor while in his service. Trevor Peacock of Vicar of Dibley fame plays another simpleton, Giles Corey. However, despite all these sterling performances the production lacks cohesion. It feels dry and colourless, while the stark and rather unstable looking scenery adds nothing to the proceedings and drags the whole thing down.