Review of 'The Crucible'
SPOILER ALERT!
Written by Arthur Miller in 1953, “The Crucible” depicts the
1692 and 1693 Salem witch trials that took place in the Province of
Massachusetts Bay, America. The brutal play unravels through town hysteria and paranormal
activity as the events of the witch trials put innocent women through perils
and intense hardship at these suspicious and terrifying times. Richard Armitage
(“Spooks”, “Robin Hood”) played the principal of John Proctor, joined by the equally talented Anna
Madeley (Elizabeth Proctor), Adrian Schiller (Reverend John Hale) and Samantha
Colley (Abigail Williams). The play runs until 13th September 2014 at the
Old Vic Theatre, London with a running time of 3hrs 30mins (including a 20
minute interval).
What an intensely, satisfying, dynamic show! Incredible
performances all round make the seemingly long play not long enough! As the
intimate setting of the Old Vic Theatre presented the play in the round, the
piece felt literally surrounded (as I’m sure its characters did) and conveyed a
shocking depiction of Arthur Miller’s infamous classic. The setting itself was minimalistic
which I often prefer as it gives actors more freedom and allowed our
imaginations to run riot in this powerful portrayal.
As we encountered the town disputes that led up to the
trials, all actors performed incredibly – all were dynamically detailed
and thought provoking. Particularly, the performances from Adrian Schiller who
played Reverend John Hale and Anna Madeley who played Elizabeth Proctor. Schiller
delivered a wonderfully developed performance as his character emerged as a
dominant authority in deciding whether witchcraft had indeed entered Salem to
becoming a dishevelled, broken man, pleading for the lives of those he’d
allowed to be condemned. He enabled us to truly empathise with the weight of
his character's earlier decisions to then sharing his grief and misery of what he had
unleashed – just stunning. Madeley must also be mentioned as she portrayed the rightfully
bitter Elizabeth Proctor outstandingly as she enveloped you in a wonderfully
tense atmosphere as she resents her husband’s actions yet also conveyed the underlying
love of the couple. This chemistry most clearly portrayed at the climax of the
play when her love was sentenced to hang for his uncommitted crimes indeed
moved me to tears as they uttered their final farewell in the madness of the
play’s events.
I felt all the other actors also portrayed their parts admirably
with similar depth to that of Madeley and Schiller. However, I felt Samantha
Colley who played Abigail Williams had perhaps not quite understood her
character as thoroughly as the rest of the cast. Of course she was strong,
confident and out-spoken as this is what the character of Abigail entails yet
she seemed to lack the subtlety that can make an actor go from being ‘great’ to
‘inspirational’. I felt on a few occasions she could have embellished her
character more by whispering to the Judge or Proctor rather than brashly shouting
every one of her lines. However, I realise I’m being quite picky here as for
the most part she did the role justice. One element of hers and indeed the
other girls, who dominantly steered the accusations, that cannot be overstated was
the overwhelming hatefulness they portrayed yet almost an underlying awe as
they contorted their bodies in abnormal ways in fits of possession, hysteria
and enchantment as they pretended to be controlled by witchcraft in order to wreak
revenge on their enemies. Most shocking of all was Marama Corlett who played
Betty Parris, Reverend Parris’ sick daughter who began the rumours of witchcraft
throughout Salem as she contorted herself into strenuously unnatural positions –
contorting her back into an arch for over 10 minutes, holding it there like a
statue with her arms splayed against the blood stained bed whilst the action continued
around her – culminating in an overwhelmingly eerie and discomforting
performance – just exquisite!
However, the true star of the show had to be Richard
Armitage. He played John Proctor to absolute perfection – showing how guilt can
truly corrupt a good man into madness by his own actions (or those of his
mistress!). From the outset he portrayed the booming John Proctor first with
authority then into bleakness as he perfectly expressed the broken, uncomfortable
marriage he had been left with and the pain this caused him. Truly owning the
stage as he demonstrated the lustful outrage of Miller’s character in a fury so
violent I was pleased I was sitting on the balcony above – far from his
reach. The anguish he expressed – often without
even needing movement – was astonishingly satisfying: just the flick of his
head, the change in his tone was enough to draw all eyes to him and him alone.
Wonderfully balancing subtlety with a true satisfyingly brash interpretation,
Armitage interpreted the character faultlessly – it was truly mesmerising. All
this culminated in the final scene, where his initially soft and tender farewell
to Elizabeth developed to a finale in fire and anguish as he tore up the stage
at the Old Vic in his electrifying end monologue. All eyes were glued; I’m
sure, to his delightfully enthralling, transfixing, clever performance of this
innocent, dishevelled man.
Overall: 5 Stars.
An intensely electrifying production of "The Crucible".
Powerfully emotive – enough to move one to tears – emanating to a truly fantastic
portrayal. I highly recommend and am only disappointed I cannot see it again.
Wonderful!
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