Arthur Miller's "The Crucible" comes to Morrisville
Alysha Jones, '11 | Staff Reporter
Issue date: 10/16/09 Section: Lifestyle
In Salem Mass, rumors begin to spread of witchcraft through the Puritan New England town. But are they just rumors? What happens to the accused?
The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a "well written, in-depth, deep and more dramatic play," says Stephen Hinkle, professor of Humanities and Social Science. He says it was the right choice because there has not been a "deep" performance since 2007. In recent years, including last year, the plays performed were comedies.
Equine Business major, Kylie Stewart, will play the role of Abigail Williams. She is 20 years old and has been performing in plays since high school. This is her fourth semester performing at Morrisville and she says this play is different than the plays she's performed in before. This year she's playing a main role and unlike past semesters: it's a drama.
Stewart says she would describe her character, Abigail, as "troubled." She is in love with a married man John Proctor, and was having an affair with him, but doesn't understand that it can't happen anymore. Stewart says Abigail would do anything to have John.
"She's smart and cunning," Stewart says, "and she knows what she wants."
Married man, John Proctor, is Abigail's dream. Playing the role of John is 31-year-old MSC student of Liberal Arts, Ariel Eliaz, who has been acting since he was 12-years-old. Eliaz says his character John is like most men, he thinks one way about Abigail and she thinks another.
"It's a ridiculous huge part," Eliaz says.
Even though he may have a "huge" part, he says in this play, every single part is important, down to the smallest role. This is Eliaz' fifth show at Morrisville, including the summer show. He says the name alone and the fact that The Crucible was a movie will draw attention to the play.
Morrisville student Daniele Brodeur who has been acting about four or five years, plays the strong and prideful wife of John, Elizabeth Proctor. Even though she is still trying to discover her character, she says Elizabeth is a kind Puritan woman. Elizabeth is feeling paranoid, Brodeur says, she has a feeling that Abigail is trying to kill her to get to John.
The Crucible is a very serious and dramatic play, says Brodeur who has been performing at MSC for two-and-a-half years. She says the old language use and the diverse characters will draw attention.
"Each character has their own story to tell," Brodeur says.
Daniel Kavanah is the back stage manager; his job is to focus on what's going on where the audience can't see and to make sure everything is running smooth and on schedule. This is his first year as stage manger, but his fourth year at MSC involved with the backstage crew.
He says The Crucible is unique because it isn't right in your face. The audience has to think about it more because of the old English language. The language, he says, since it's older, makes it harder for the cast, because it's not modern like they're used to.
Kavanah is happy to see cast members from previous plays, but he is also pleased to see new people involved.
"We're actually ahead of schedule," Hinkle says with a laugh, "but don't tell the cast that."
Hinkle says each year the play draws about 600 people, around 100 each night. The musicals usually bring a little bit more of an audience. Hinkle hopes this semester there will be more people, because of the strong cast performing and it's a "really good" play.
The scheduled dates for the play are 8:00 p.m. on Oct. 23,24,29,30 and 31. With a 2:00 p.m. showing on Sunday the 25.
"Hinkle does an amazing job with casting and directing," Stewart says.
The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a "well written, in-depth, deep and more dramatic play," says Stephen Hinkle, professor of Humanities and Social Science. He says it was the right choice because there has not been a "deep" performance since 2007. In recent years, including last year, the plays performed were comedies.
Equine Business major, Kylie Stewart, will play the role of Abigail Williams. She is 20 years old and has been performing in plays since high school. This is her fourth semester performing at Morrisville and she says this play is different than the plays she's performed in before. This year she's playing a main role and unlike past semesters: it's a drama.
Stewart says she would describe her character, Abigail, as "troubled." She is in love with a married man John Proctor, and was having an affair with him, but doesn't understand that it can't happen anymore. Stewart says Abigail would do anything to have John.
"She's smart and cunning," Stewart says, "and she knows what she wants."
 | The Cast of CRUCIBLE rehearses for opening night. The first night of the play will be on October 23 at 8:00 pm. Photo by Amy Jacobsen, '11 | Staff Photographer |
|---|
Married man, John Proctor, is Abigail's dream. Playing the role of John is 31-year-old MSC student of Liberal Arts, Ariel Eliaz, who has been acting since he was 12-years-old. Eliaz says his character John is like most men, he thinks one way about Abigail and she thinks another.
"It's a ridiculous huge part," Eliaz says.
Even though he may have a "huge" part, he says in this play, every single part is important, down to the smallest role. This is Eliaz' fifth show at Morrisville, including the summer show. He says the name alone and the fact that The Crucible was a movie will draw attention to the play.
Morrisville student Daniele Brodeur who has been acting about four or five years, plays the strong and prideful wife of John, Elizabeth Proctor. Even though she is still trying to discover her character, she says Elizabeth is a kind Puritan woman. Elizabeth is feeling paranoid, Brodeur says, she has a feeling that Abigail is trying to kill her to get to John.
The Crucible is a very serious and dramatic play, says Brodeur who has been performing at MSC for two-and-a-half years. She says the old language use and the diverse characters will draw attention.
"Each character has their own story to tell," Brodeur says.
Daniel Kavanah is the back stage manager; his job is to focus on what's going on where the audience can't see and to make sure everything is running smooth and on schedule. This is his first year as stage manger, but his fourth year at MSC involved with the backstage crew.
He says The Crucible is unique because it isn't right in your face. The audience has to think about it more because of the old English language. The language, he says, since it's older, makes it harder for the cast, because it's not modern like they're used to.
Kavanah is happy to see cast members from previous plays, but he is also pleased to see new people involved.
"We're actually ahead of schedule," Hinkle says with a laugh, "but don't tell the cast that."
Hinkle says each year the play draws about 600 people, around 100 each night. The musicals usually bring a little bit more of an audience. Hinkle hopes this semester there will be more people, because of the strong cast performing and it's a "really good" play.
The scheduled dates for the play are 8:00 p.m. on Oct. 23,24,29,30 and 31. With a 2:00 p.m. showing on Sunday the 25.
"Hinkle does an amazing job with casting and directing," Stewart says.