Theatre Department to Present Arthur Miller’s Drama, The Crucible

Posted by: Elizabeth Richardson on October 9, 2017, No Comments

One reason that a play is considered to be a “classic” is that the issues examined in the drama remain relevant to current audiences.

Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, being presented October 18, and 20-22 by East Stroudsburg University’s Theatre Department, “highlights several issues that are especially pertinent today,” noted Stephanie Daventry French, professor of theatre and director of the production.

The drama examines how bigoted and deceitful accusations of witchcraft in 17th-century Salem, Massachusetts created mass hysteria that resulted in the murders of innocent people. “The discontent, petty squabbles and intolerance of 1692 Salem are rife within our culture,” French said.

To highlight the link between past and present, French chose to make a change in the setting of the drama. “While honoring the historical context of the play and its genesis in the era of McCarthyism,” she noted, “we have set our production in the near future because of concerns that growing hatred and intolerance could incite a similar tragedy if we are not vigilant.

“Events similar to the witch trials have happened and continue to happen to purge the frustrations of the community,” French added. “People who are marginalized in society are the ones that continue to be scapegoated—the genocide of Jews, gays, Gypsies and other outsiders in Nazi Germany; the lynching of African Americans in the southern U.S.; and the ongoing persecution of the Rohingya in Myanmar.”

The Crucible shows “how rumors are spread and people panic and jump to conclusions,” added Angelique Ramirez, a junior from Effort, Pa., majoring in musical theatre, who plays Elizabeth Proctor in the production. “The play makes you ask ‘what if this happened today?’ and think of the consequences. Peoples’ lives could be at stake.”

“My character, John Proctor who is central to the drama, would have the same view of himself in any time period,” said Rashiek Lauren, a junior from Philadelphia, Pa., majoring in musical theatre. “He’s a strong man, an honest man, but also a stubborn man whose strength is embedded in him.”

Cory Oswald, a sophomore theatre major from Bethlehem, Pa., described his character, Marshall John Willard, as someone who “is in the background throughout the play, has known these people for many years. He’s in a position of authority and has to carry out his duties, even though he starts questioning what he’s doing. Whether in the past or the near future, the rules and laws of a totalitarian society reflect the same kind of thinking that allows people to be ‘hung’ as ‘witches.’”

The creative team for The Crucible includes scenic and costume designer Yoshi Tanokura, associate professor of theatre; lighting designer and technical director Christopher Domanski, associate professor of theatre; and student sound designer Joshua Weidenbaum, a junior from Saylorsburg, Pa. who is majoring in musical theatre.

Curtain times for the ESU production of The Crucible are 7:30 p.m. October 18, 20 and 21; and 2 p.m. October 22. All performances are in the Smith-McFarland Theatre of the university’s Fine and Performing Arts Center, Normal and Marguerite streets, East Stroudsburg.

General admission is $12; senior citizens, faculty and staff with ID are $10; students with ID are $7; and youth 13 and under are $5. This play is recommended for ages 12 and above.

Advanced tickets sales are available online (credit cards only online). Remaining tickets are available at the box office one hour before curtain on performance dates (cash and checks only at the box office). For other information or reservations, please email esuarts@esu.edu or call 570-422-3483.