The Crucible – The Old Vic, London

Wow.  Having been to see the Crucible last weekend at the Old Vic, I can safely say that time sometimes flies when you’re being emotionally wrung out.  The intensity and power of this staging of Arthur Miller’s play are incredible, and are a credit to the actors, director and production team.  The running time of three and a half hours is easily one of the longest of the plays I’ve been to see in a while, and the friend I went with did have to dash to get a train afterwards, but I am rather glad actually that they haven’t cut anything out.

The sound, lighting and costume design work well to strip the play down to essentials, emphasising the way in which, yes, the setting is 1690s New England, and the real target is McCarthyism, but actually people in most locations and decades can see how it applies to them, or could easily apply to them given the right set of circumstances.  All elements of the design are minimal but effective, from the monochrome costumes to the lighting used to distinguish the bedroom in the Parris house, the Procters’ home and the courtroom.  Finally, the sounds and music are subtle but work with the action of the play to constantly increase the tension.

The real tension, however, comes from some extremely effective performances.  Richard Armitage strikes the right balance between guilt and integrity and his John Procter is sympathetic throughout.  He was incidentally a little hoarse when I saw the play, but that’s probably to be expected after a matinee as well and a lot of intense emoting.  Samantha Colley is making her professional stage debut as Abigail, and I hope manages to capitalise on it.  The girls in general are very strong in the play – they are committed, the choreography has been well planned, and I actually had goosebumps during the confrontation in the courtroom.  Adrian Schiller as the Reverend John Hale is wonderful, and his sorrow almost visceral.  The individual performances come together well, and give the production the intensity that immersed me in it completely.

Do you know what else I really love about going to the Old Vic?  Their programmes. They are £4, are not full of advertising like some theatres are, and have really interesting essays in them.  When I went to see Clarence Darrow, the programme was very helpful in actually telling me who he was (having not consulted Wikipedia before going to see it) and this time there were pieces on Miller, McCarthyism and the relationship between the seventeenth century Indian Wars and the psychological climate necessary to produce the witch trials.  For a big old geek like me, it’s fascinating stuff and much more interesting than endless vanity interviews.  Thanks Old Vic!