FVHS theatre performs Crucible. Photo courtesy of Katie Bell.
By Shayan Abbasi & Jayden Nguyen
Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible,” centered around the themes of hysteria and witchcraft, appeared in Fountain Valley High School’s theatre production from December 5-8. Written in 1953, during the height of McCarthyism and the Red Scare, Miller used the Salem witch trials of 1692 as a historical allegory to comment on the paranoia and mass hysteria prevalent in his own time. Historically, these witch trials set in colonial America reflected a sense of fear and religious frenzies that resulted in dozens being executed.
Set in the small Puritan village of Salem, Massachusetts, in the late 17th century, the story hinges on the Puritans, who are a religious group seeking religious purity and adherence to strict moral codes.
The main character is farmer John Proctor, played by senior Kyle Smith, who finds himself facing troubling consequences following an affair with Abigail Williams. His complex character, often switching between instances of morality and personal flaws, adds a sense of uncertainty to the play. Williams, played by junior Lizzy Doan, is the vengeful and manipulative young woman who sets the hysteria in motion, and as such symbolizes the destructive power of falsehoods.
As the community succumbs to lies and deceit, the lives of innocent individuals are forever changed, with seven characters from the book being executed.
Act 1 opens with a group of girls, including Williams and Betty Parris, caught dancing in the woods by Reverend Parris. Dancing was forbidden in the Puritanical society, and the girls’ secretive activities sparked rumors of witchcraft.
To avoid punishment for their forbidden activities, the girls concoct a story of being bewitched and name other villagers as witches. Abigail, with personal grudges against John Proctor and a desire for power, takes a leading role in accusing innocent individuals, in turn leading to the first arrests.
Tituba, who is Parris’s slave from Barbados, is forced into confessing to witchcraft and falsely implicating others. The entire community eventually becomes engulfed in hysteria, and the court, led by Deputy Governor Danforth, is established to try the accused. The court accepts hearsay evidence and coerced confessions, leading to the imprisonment and execution of many innocent people.
As the trials intensify, John Proctor’s wife, Elizabeth, is accused of witchcraft. In an attempt to save her, Proctor confesses to his past affair with Abigail Williams. However, his admission is turned against him, as Abigail uses this information to further manipulate the court.
Elizabeth is brought to trial, and despite John’s attempt to expose Abigail’s deceit, she is sentenced to hang. The court seems unable to accept reason, something thst becomes more evident as the play continues on to its ending point. refusal to accept reason and evidence becomes glaringly evident as the injustices continue to mount.
Finally, John Proctor decides to confess to witchcraft to save his own life but refuses to sign his name to the false confession. Though a powerful statement against the corruption and hypocrisy of the court, this results in his execution.
This play was based on the true story of the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. It illustrates the dangers of power that is unchecked, as well as the human susceptibility to fall into hysteria.
“It is a piece that speaks to historical ideas, both in the 1600s and 1950s, but it also speaks to the hysteria today and how we can all fall victim to untruths to get along,” Mr. Zick, theatre teacher at Fountain Valley High School, said. “And those kind of ideas resonate today, as much as they did times in the past.”
Regarding the theatre production, Mr. Zick highlighted the student effort in ensuring the play’s success.
“Our assistant directors ran through the rehearsal, got the students ready for performance, while I spent time with our crew working on building the set and getting everything ready,” Mr. Zick said.
