The drama begins with Salem's minister Reverend Parris (Sam Hanson, Landon '18) at the bedside of his young daughter Betty Parris (Sarah Muhlbaum '20) who is afflicted by a strange illness. Witchcraft is suspected and Parris sends for local expert Reverend Hale (Shea Sion '17). Soon all the girls of the village are crying out that they've been bewitched and foremost among the accusers is 17-year-old Abigail Williams (Natalie Bock '18.) Rich landowners Ann and Thomas Putnam (Sophie Johnson '19 and Bobby Ramkissoon '17) encourage their daughter Ruth (Nina Mourao '18) to cry witchery on their neighbors so that they might gain even more land. Ruth joins her friends Mercy Lewis (Paige Magid '20), Susanna Walcott (Talia Szalay '20), and Mary Warren (Katie Babbit '17) in accusing witches.
The first to stand accused are those with the least power, an enslaved woman Tituba (Yasmin Alamdeen '17) and a beggar (Lauren Cooke '20), but soon court clerk Ezekiel Cheever (Lailah Fritz '18) has issued warrants for more than 39 citizens and Court Marshalls Willard and Herrick (Betsy Schugar '18 and Jumana Schmidt '20) have rounded them up.
Local farmer John Proctor (John McMahon '18) suspects that Abigail has fomented this hysteria in a twisted attempt to rekindle their relationship, a brief affair that he had while his wife Elizabeth Proctor (Cecilia Parker '17) was sick. His suspicions are confirmed when Elizabeth, too, is accused of witchcraft, along with her friends Martha Corey (Micaela Lamas '20) and Rebecca Nurse (Jordan Fues '17). Proctor vows to expose Abigail as a fraud and enlists the help of his serving-girl Mary Warren to convince the court of his wife's innocence. Giles Corey and Francis Nurse (Skye Worster '20 and Clara Ferrari '17) go with him to plead for their wives as well.
With so many accused Deputy Governor Danforth (Maryam Gilanshah '17) joins local Magistrate Hathorne (Olivia Herlein '18) on the bench. Their courtroom is the crucible of the play's title, and in it they seek to discover the truth of what troubles Salem, even if they must sentence scores of people to hang for invisible crimes.
Stage Manager Laila Syed '19 leads a team of 14 student technicians, with assistance from Rinnie Hewlett '17 and Izzy Koff '18. Kate Magill Robinson designed the costumes. Nick Arancibia serves as lighting designer and Mark Robinson designed the set and led his Production Technology students in its construction. Drama Director Elizabeth Zitelli directs this team of 38 student artists.
The online box office is now closed. Tickets are available for purchase at the door. A limited number of tickets remain available for opening night. However, several tickets are still available for the two Saturday performances.
Performances are:
Friday, February 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 25 at 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 25 at 7:30 p.m.