BWW Reviews: Desert Foothills Theatre Presents THE CRUCIBLE

Fear and superstition have been the fuel for mass hysteria and witch hunts as far back as 15th Century Europe. In the United States, the wicked dynamic, from time to time, has taken its toll on the soul of this nation, no more dramatically and pervasively than in the witch trials of 17th Century Salem Massachusetts and then in the 1953 halls of Congress during the ruthless Red-baiting tenure of Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy.

These two historical moments are the seeds of Arthur Miller's The Crucible, an allegory whose relevance sixty-two years after its Broadway premiere is as potent as ever, now on stage at Desert Foothills Theatre.

One does not perform this play or watch it without being chilled to the bone and transformed by the understanding of what evils flow from false witness (reference the Ninth Commandment).

With a raw authenticity that derives from the astute and inspired direction of Scott Johnson and their own fresh and untainted interpretation of their characters, the young cast of this production gives weight and urgency to Miller's words. It is a worthy culmination of DFT's Advanced Acting Workshop in which the performers are fully immersed in all aspects of the theatrical experience.

Like a virus on steroids, rumors abound throughout Salem that the mysterious illness of Reverend Parris' (Lochlan DuVal) daughter (Tatum Ball) is attributable to the witchcraft antics of his niece Abigail (Jamie Bornscheuer) and slave, Tituba (Brittany Franke).

Denials turn to confessions, broader accusations, and unbridled persecution.

Caught in the middle of this epic tragedy is John Proctor (Brad Cashman), whose prior affair with Abigail, is fuel for the fire of deceit ~ further exacerbated by the on-and-off pretensions of his housekeeper, Mary Warren (Ashley Shirley). It is in the defense of his honor or that of his wife (Kelly Hajeck), that a riveting trial of souls is convened under the stern jurisdiction of Deputy-Governor Danforth (Alex Martinez).

Proctor understands what history has revealed ~ that anybody will confess if it prevents them from getting hanged. In discourse with the Reverend John Hale (R. Allyn McCoy), who has arrived in Salem to investigate the allegations, Proctor is challenged to recite the Ten Commandments and remembers all but one. In his mind, it is a small fault, but Hale notes that "There is no tolerance for small cracks in the fortress of God." Such is the astonishing and repugnant platform of the self-righteous on which condemnation and persecution is based.

As The Crucible boils to tragic denouement, we are reminded of the casualties of mindless persecution and we hail this young cast for breathing fire into Miller's memorandum.

The Crucible continues its run through July 26th at Foothills Community Foundation-Holland Cabaret Theatre.

Photo credit to Desert Foothills Theatre