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The potent story unfolded in The Crucible is told through a large number of carefully-drawn characters. The way they are portrayed as individuals and their relationships with each other is vital in building a composite picture of events surrounding the Salem witch trials of 1692.
The Barnstormers’ production, directed by Paul Longhurst, showed most of those involved as real-life people with recognisable strengths, weaknesses and foibles. As important, they were clearly shown against the background of the times in which they lived, which is essential in order for audiences to comprehend the mass hysteria that gripped New England.
Paul Laughton painted Reverend Parris as a witch-hunting zealot, whose rigid attitude split the community. It was a meticulous study, which made it easy to understand, if impossible to like the man.
Camilla Rockley showed Abigail Williams to be a brazen, manipulative girl. It was no surprise to find that she eventually ran off, with her uncle’s (Parris’s) money. Lucy Coward brought out the conflict suffered by Mary Warren, torn between doing what she knew to be right and the terror of Abigail and the other girls.
Steve Palmer looked every bit the hard working, independent-minded farmer, John Proctor. Although his delivery lacked spontaneity at times, he came across strongly in the last act, in which he had to decide whether to lie in order to save his life, or maintain his principles and face the gallows. Clare Tibbalds gave a carefully paced portrayal of Elizabeth his wife – a reserved, self-doubting, woman coming to terms with her husband’s infidelity with Abigail.
Jerry Phillips brought humanity to Danforth, the Deputy Governor, intent on seeking the truth but, ultimately, bound by the beliefs and strictures of the era.
The Crucible offers very little humour but John Bennett added a light touch as the litigious Giles Corey. There was a chill in the air as Celena Bain, the Barbadian slave Tituba, recounted her conversations with the devil.
Elizabeth Callow projected all the good-natured, God-fearing qualities for which Rebecca Nurse was respected in Salem. Twelve-year-old Lotti Davies, heightened the drama when, as Betty Parris, she awoke screaming from her trance at the climax to Act 1.
Several other members of the cast could have looked rather deeper into their characters and some needed to deliver their lines more naturally. The only noticeable fault in the staging was that grouping looked contrived in some scenes – most noticeably that of the girls in Act 1.
The prologue, an inspired idea, showed the girls, in silhouette, dancing in the woods – an innocent enough pursuit but one which, eventually, led to the execution of twenty people.
Tony Flock
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