THE CRUCIBLE Reviews

[Phantom of London]

Although Ivan Van Howe has been around a long time, it is only recently he has gained such attention and prominence.

Surprised this has got a Critic Pick, the New York Times seems to give everything a critic pick at the moment. Ben Brantley loved The Crucible which he saw it at the Old Vic, with Richard Armitage that played 2 years ago, thought this would come to New York, but didn't. Included the review, for your own delectation.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/12/theater/the-crucible-by-arthur-miller-plays-at-the-old-vic.html

Also Ben has been all over Ben Whishaw, who he saw at the Almedia in Bakkhai, which I have also included.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/13/arts/international/review-bakkhai-splendour-and-three-days-in-the-country.html

[BroadwayConcierge]

Completely honest and earnest question: what was the last production that opened on Broadway that wasn't a New York Times Critics' Pick? Which shows this season have not achieved that status?

[QueenAlice]

I suspect AMERICAN PSYCHO (Brantley) will also end up being a critics pick.  Maybe SHUFFLE ALONG too.  Maybe TUCK will be this year's only musical that isn't a critics pick.

[ChiTheaterFan]

BroadwayConcierge said: "Completely honest and earnest question: what was the last production that opened on Broadway that wasn't a New York Times Critics' Pick? Which shows this season have not achieved that status?

 

"

Here's a list but it only includes shows currently open and I don't know which closed shows were or weren't. http://www.nytimes.com/reviews/theater/critics-pick On Your Feet is the only open show that comes to mind that isn't on the list. 

[neonlightsxo]

Yeah, they've been handing them out like Halloween candy lately.

[QueenAlice]

It's been a very strong season, IMO, so I don't have a problem with them being generous with the critics picks. The only one I don't agree with is DISASTER.  I'm not sure I'd give the 'whole' of SCHOOL OF ROCK critics pick either, but I did love all the scenes with the kids.

[TotallyEffed]

Wasn't Hughie also a pick?

[Kad]

Brantley has increasingly been reviewing based on his perception of what is on trend, especially this season.

[neonlightsxo]

Yeah, Hughie is the exception to what's on trend. Everyone I know, including me, hated it yet Brantley gave it a critics pick.

[cardamon]

Of the 10 shows that have opened on Broadway this year, it looks like only TWO have not been Critics Picks: Our Mother's Brief Affair and Blackbird. What's the point of naming a show a Critics Pick if almost everything on Broadway is one?

[ChiTheaterFan]

TotallyEffed said: "Wasn't Hughie also a pick?

 

"

Yes. Now I'm curious so I looked up the reviews for this season's shows. Here are the Broadway shows that I found that weren't:

China Doll

Misery

Our Mother's Brief Affair

Therese Raquin

Allegiance

Amazing Grace

On Your Feet

Old Times

Sylvia

Dames at Sea

 

So there were a few though more were than weren't. I'm a little surprised Act of God was a critic's pick. I actually really enjoyed it, but it was more of a comedy show. I didn't see Fool for Love, Hughie, or Disaster, so I can't comment on those. Other than that, I can't say I disagree with any of their picks so I think it could be argued it's just a strong season. 

[ChiTheaterFan]

I missed blackbird because I forgot to check the "category to be determined shows."  So add that. But it's more than 2 and more than 10 shows have opened. Here's the complete list of Broadway shows from this season (although it includes shows that haven't yet opened)

 

http://www.tonyawards.com/mobile/en_US/spotlight/index.html

 

ETA:  I was looking at shows this season but I just noticed the prior poster said this year, probably meaning calendar year. I haven't broken it down that way so that very well may be correct. 

[cardamon]

ChiTheaterFan-

Yes, I just looked at shows that opened in 2016, because I was too lazy to look up everything that opened in the entire season. Maybe it's just that the spring season has been that much better than the fall.

[ChiTheaterFan]

Yeah I have to pack and am procrastinating. :)

 

I'll be very interested to see what happens later this  month. It seems like the spring is indeed pretty strong. I had actually forgotten that most of those shows from the fall that weren't critic's picks existed... 

[Steve C.]

I saw the very last preview on Wednesday so I think I'm pretty sure the show was pretty much set in place. I thought Whishaw, Ronan and the girl playing Mary were outstanding. The rest of the cast was very, very good too.

While I may be in the minority here but my problems with the show are quite major to me. The set is boring and bland. The blackboard stupid effects looked like an after thought and used too sparingly. The special effects of the wind and fog were hokey and a jarring comparison to the seriousness of the play's dialogue. I think it got a NYT pick probably because of the two lead's acting.

However, with this being the Arthur Miller celebration this year, it was important to produce the play.      

[chanel]

Scroll down for mixed review.

Monotonous set, Ronan recedes, Whishaw oddly cast, but some powerful touches.

http://www.out.com/michael-musto/2016/4/04/acid-betty-thorgy-thor-and-other-drag-stars-respond-trumps-horrors

[vickster51]

I saw this production on my recent trip to NYC. I very much enjoyed it. It had a different atmosphere to the Old Vic one in 2014, which was very eerie indeed (available to watch officially on Digital Theatre's website). However I very much enjoyed seeing a different interpretation of proctor through Ben Whishaw's casting. He brought out the quieter aspects of the man and it was still a very powerful performance. I also thought Saoirse Ronan was very good as Abigail and the final scene between Whishaw and Sophie Okonedo was quite moving. Glad I made the effort to see it.

My further thoughts are in my review on my blog for anyone interested: https://vickster51corner.wordpress.com/2016/05/10/theatre-review-the-crucible-starring-ben-whishaw-broadway-new-york/

[AndrewAndrew]

via @ReviewEquations

[ ( 55% The Good Wife + 38% The Children’s Hour + 7% Peter Pan ) x The Exorcist ] x (Trump + Hillary) = @TheCrucibleBway

[icecreambenjamin]

Hey so I'm planning on taking some family to the show next week.  None of them have ever seen The Crucible.  Does the direction of this production make it difficult to understand the story? 

[Fantod]

^ Definitely. I have a general rule when going to see concept productions which is that the director assumes that the audience is already familiar with a play and wants to subvert your expectations. Going in without a clue can be bewildering. I'd suggest a group review of the play and it's themes with your family.

Hope you like it! Seeing anything else in New York?

[icecreambenjamin]

^ We're seeing She Loves Me, The Color Purple, and Fun Home.

[Fantod]

That's a good spread. Have fun!

[mpkie]

I actually read The Crucible in junior high and not being a fan of plays, it stuck with me that I enjoyed it as a kid. Except... I didn't remember what it was about. I just remember that it made an impression on me. I really loved Ivo Van Hove's "A View from the Bridge" so was excited to see this.

I don't find this nearly as good as A View but still thought it was fantastic. Not sure I agreed with the staging choices, but seeing the play definitely piqued my interest to read it again. Glad I got to see it before it closed, and now, I'd love to see a traditional staging of both plays.

Random tangent: When I was that little, it never occurred to me that plays were made into productions, so it never occurred to me that this would be staged. (That's what happens when you're never exposed to the arts growing up!)