Study Guide and Statement, Project 4.

Arthur Miller’s

The Crucible

Study Guide

[for Ms. Mac’s HS Theatre Class]

Arthur Miller, the playwright

• born in New York City, 1915
• attended and graduated from the University of Michigan
• received a Bachelor of Arts Degree
• husband to Marilyn Monroe for five years
• passed away in February, 2005
• other well-known scripts: All My Sons, Death of a Salesman, and A View From the Bridge

The Script

• written in 1953
• based on the Salem Witchcraft Trials of 1692
• compared to the McCarthy Era
• first produced on Broadway in January, 1953

The Plot

      The play begins in the late summer of 1692.  A group of young women, including the Reverend Parris’ daughter and niece, were caught dancing naked in the woods.  Parris’ daughter, Betty, was then struck “dumb.”  The men decide to send for Revered Harris of Beverly.  John Proctor, the lead of the play, arrives to Parris’ home to a slew of characters in the child’s bedroom.  When Hale arrives, he assumes that the girl is under the power of the devil.  The first person to place the blame on is Tituba, the slave of Parris.  She confesses that she loves God and is not guilty of witchcraft.  Betty then awakens and attempts to fly out the window.

      Between acts one and two, a few weeks has passed.  The first accusations of witchery have been made, and the trial proceedings are officially underway.

      The next act takes place in the Proctor household.  Mary Warren comes back from a day in court, gives Elizabeth a poppet (voo-doo doll), and then is sent to bed.  John and his wife get into an argument about Abigail, Parris’ niece. She used to be their maid but was released when Elizabeth expected some foul play between Abby and John.  As the argument reaches its highest point, they are interrupted by Reverend Hale.  He has come to speak to the couple about the religious behaviors and habits, and John is not able to recite the Ten Commandments from memory.  In the middle of their conversation, they are interrupted by Ezekiel Cheever.  He has come to take Elizabeth away to jail for being accused of witchcraft by Abigail.

      The third act takes place in the court.  Different men and women are called to the stand and are either forced to confess to being on one side or another… The majority deny it.  Eventually, Abigail has an outburst and accuses John of being one of these “witches.”  The court directs itself in questioning him, and he denies it. 

      Between the third and fourth acts, it turns to autumn.  The officers of the court have finally convinced John to confess, and Elizabeth was released due to the fact that she is pregnant.  John confesses, signs the paper, then throws it away.  The show ends with his death…

Production History

• The Crucible has been produced all over the world
• it was made into a motion picture in the early 60s and in 1996, starring Winona Ryder and Daniel Day-Lewis
• it has been on Broadway in 1953 and again in 2002
• the 2002 Broadway version starred Liam Neeson and Laura Linney

“I would highly recommend this play; though keep in mind the seriousness of the subject matter.  This is not one you leave singing a happy song - it's one that makes you think."

Lorie Lewis Ham, Kings River Life Magazine

Things to Ponder

The Script:

1] Is this script applicable to today’s world?  If so, how?  If not, why?

2] Could John Proctor be qualified as a tragic hero? 

3] Was Reverend Parris partly to blame for the actions of his daughter and niece?

4] Would you consider Tituba to really be a witch?

5] If you were John Proctor, what would you have done at the end of the show?  Falsely confess or hang?

The Performance:

1] Did you like the set?  If yes, why?  If no, why?

2] Did the lights or sound distract from the story?

3] What performer had an impact on you?

4] Was there any performer that you think struggled?

5] If there was something you could change about the performance, what would it be?

Dramaturg’s Statement

      The Crucible is going to be a wonderful show for us to produce.  We will do great things with it, of that I am positive.  From a dramaturg’s perspective the show is a gold-mine.  It is full of factual and significantly historical aspects, and I could not be more excited about taking this job on.  This show could be a major success, or it could teeter on the edge of being an epic failure.  I firmly believe we will be able to produce this show with little to no flaws.  There are sections of the process that must be done and made to be as it was in that time in history, including: costumes, set, and casting decisions.

      The show’s costumes are fairly simple… But to get the historical point of the word ‘puritan’ across, the characters need to look a certain way.  In colonial America, the men were covered head to toe.  They wore boots, long pants of linen/denim, and long sleeve shirts much like a ‘Shakespeare’ shirt.  The women were also usually covered head to toe with ankle length dresses, boots, tights, bloomers, aprons/pinafores, and a bonnet.  These historically accurate costumes call for a lot of fabric and a lot of sewing which costs a great amount of cash.  It is important that we discuss this and have a larger than normal budget for the costumers to play with.

      The second thing that brings questions to my mind is the set.  It has been done with a minimal set (benches, stools, barrels) AND an entire house frame built with furniture and set dressing.  We need to make a decision quick as to what we are planning on doing.  Either choice will be fine, but the set for this play is very important in transporting the audience to the correct time period.

      The last thing we need to concentrate on is our issues with casting.  Tituba obviously needs to be a black woman, but I am sure none of the other characters should be… It could be seen as a racist issue to cast Proctor as a black man, due to the fact that he is accused of infidelity and of being a witch.  The show is not meant to be offensive, and I pray that it does not turn out that way.  We also have a wide range of ages in the character.  Betty is the youngest at about twelve or thirteen, and the oldest is the Nurse family in their mid-seventies.  The decision needs to be made whether or not we want to go with characters and actors ages corresponding with each other.  Do we want a child playing Betty or someone under eight-teen playing Abigail?  It should not be hard to decide upon, but whatever choice we make we need to stick with.

      I believe this production of The Crucible will be amazing, as long as we are all on the same page.  If anyone has any questions to ask of me, you are more than welcome to ask.  I want this show to display the best we have to offer in order to honor Arthur Miller and the real human beings our actors will be portraying…



Production History Conclusion, Project 3. (continued)

    The Crucible, as a script, incites one of two emotions into every audience member... either, "Yes! I love that show" or "Someone kill me before I have to listen to these girls scream continuously for two hours."  The show can either be extremely moving or terribly boring.  The Crucible has actually been one of my most favorite shows since I was younger, and I would either love to direct or be in it some day.  From a production perspective, it is not the easiest show to handle.  The script is beautifully written, but it does pose a few problems to those wishing to produce it, albeit a professional theatre, college, or high school theatre program.
    One of the most difficult things about any script set during a time that is foreign to us is the language.  Like the majority of things written concerning this period in history, it is written in a different vernacular than what we speak today.  Some of the character's lines, including Tituba, are written in a dialect.  Done incorrectly, her character could lose its magic.  Dialects and accents can cause problems for any type of theatre producing this show.  A vocal coach would be a good idea for a production team to pick up in this situation.
    At Sam Houston State, we are perfectly capable of producing this show.  Problems with casting its characters and the construction of the set is the only thing that constitutes any worry in my mind.  The cast for this play is always a challenge because if you do not pick the right type of person, the show could fail miserably.  Proctor, in Arthur Miller's mind, was a physically strong and handsome man.  Adding to that, I believe he should also be tall with a full head of hair... Casting that character with the "slim pickings" we have here is not ideal.  There are few men who have been able to pull off that role, and it is obviously the most important in the script.  Set construction could also be an issue.  I know there are always conflicting views amongst designers and directors as to what/how the set needs to be built.  You could go extremely minimalist with this show, but it could also be a very grand set... There needs to be some kind of happy medium between all parties invovled as to how everything will look.  To make this show historically accurate is also important.  A lot of research will be set on the dramaturg and designer's shoulders, and it is up to them to figure out how everything needs to be done and done correctly.  Hopefully disagreement would not keep Sam Houston from producing a wonderful show.
    The last two paragraphs, I wanted to meld together since they go hand in hand.  The production problems of this script have been solved or dealt with by theatres all over the world.  In my readings, almost every professional production of this show is somewhat successful.  John Proctor is considered to be Greek King-like with a fragile wife.  Tituba is a Barbados slave with a thick dialect that comes off as understandable, and the supporting roles are continuously strong and solid.  Sets have been minimal, but some have built entire house frames on the stage.  Either way, the critics have enjoyed. 
    Arthur Miller gave the world a bit of magic in writing this script, as did the men and women the story is about.  I believe the show can be successful any where it is produced.  Intelligent, hard-working people are a must... And it just has to be a common understanding amongst the crew, director, and company that they will put forth their best effort in making their show note-worthy.  When everyone is on the same page and has talent and a positive attitude, the show will not fail.

Production History, Project 3.

http://www.gomemphis.com/news/2010/feb/23/theater-review-crucible-success-harrell-theatre-ge/

The Harrell Theatre

Collierville, Tennessee

February, 2010

Director: Amy Hanford

"The writing is brilliant, and the examination of human nature through history and allegory has established it as an important contribution to theater.  Amy Hanford's production at the Harrell is genergally well-cast and handsomely mounted."- Jon W. Sparks

http://kingsriverlife.com/03/30/the-crucible-on-stage/

Good Company Players

2nd Space Theater

Fresno, California

April, 2011

Director: Eric Day

"I would highly recommend this play; though keep in mind the seriousness of the subject matter.  The show is not one you leave singing a happy song - it's one that makes you think." - Lorie Lewis Ham, Kings River Life Magazine

http://foustskingdom.pbworks.com/w/page/11670401/Production%20Photos-The%20Crucible

Royal Shakespeare Company

The Gielgud Theatre

London, England

March, 2006

Director: Dominic Cooke

"The fascination in The Crucible lies in the way in which power shifts and people's views change, all founded on Miller's deep understanding of human nature.  It is no surprise that when the judge.... comes to town bringing his firm views, many quail and willingly lie to save their lives if not their souls." - Phillip Fisher, The British Theatre Guide

http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/cruciblegielgud-rev.htm

http://www.irishtheatremagazine.ie/Reviews/Current/The-Crucible

The Lyric Theatre

Belfast, Ireland

May, 2011

Director: Connall Morrison

"The casting of the production is impeccable, producing a finely tuned ensemble performance, with a number of other outstanding individual performances." - Tom Maguire

http://theater.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?res=9b03e6da1330f93ba35750c0a9649c8b63

The Virginia Theatre

New York City, New York

October, 2002 - June, 2003

Director: Richard Eyre

Noteworthy Actors: Liam Neeson (as John), Laura Linney (as Elizabeth), and Jennifer Carpenter (as Mary Warren)

"The intense focus with which Mr. Neeson and Ms. Linney embody their characters -- and the connections they forge between them -- makes the Proctors' relationship, more than ever, the moral and emotional touchstone in The Crucible." - Ben Brantley

Conclusion, Project 2. (continued)

    The year is 1692... Late summer... Pre-Revolution America... A very fragile time in our country's history.  Because of that fragility, we ended up with one of the most depressing set of circumstances of that day and time.  Those particular events led our playwright, Arthur Miller, to write The Crucible: the story of the Salem, Massachusetts witchcraft trial.  The script was written as an allegory of the 1950s McCarthy era.  In those years, there was a list of well-to-do men and women who were accused of conspiracy, treason, and were black-listed.  Those people, including Arthur Miller himself, eventually won their fight against the government.  Because of that short period of time, we were given one of the greatest tragedies written by an American playwright.
    Around the world at this time, there were many goings-on... King James was overthrown as King of England, and William of Orange took his place leading the nation into a huge war.  Palchebel was already writing music and eventually wrote one of the most famous pieces of piano music the world has ever seen, Canon in D.  In 1685 the world was also blessed with the birth of Johann Sebastian Bach, another wonderful music composer.  Sir Isaac Newton, a philosopher, was in the midst of his well-known discoveries.  He published his theory on gravity around this time.  Despite the success of these nations, the continent of Europe was in great turmoil during this time.
    On the continent of North America, not much was going on that historians know about.  This country was mostly inhabited by Native Americans.  They were peaceful people for the most part, providing for themselves in the ways they knew how... until they were over-run by the English settlers.
    A bit previous to the year our play begins, many families immigrated from England to North America.  Those English settlers were unhappy with their monarcy, the King and Queen form or government, and decided to do something about it.  They packed their few belongings, boarded a ship, and made their way west... These happenings led to what we know now as the United States of America.  But because of the unrest in Europe, some hostile feelings were brought along with those settlers.  There were often villages and settlements that failed miserably, resulting in the death of almost everyone living in that certain area.  For the most part, however, the groups worked well together to provide for themselves and their community.
    The Salem witchcraft trials were a direct result of the religious hysteria taking place in the colonies.  These people had left England having been fed up with the Catholic church.  Many converted to Protestants or simply no religion at all.  The difference of views and morals amongst townspeople brought on this tragedy.  A young girl, Abigail Williams, along with her young cousin and a few friends were caught dancing nude in the woods to the tune of songs/chants from Tituba.  Because of the children's guilt, they felt they had to protect themselves by claiming to love God while those around them were doing the Devil's work.  John and Elizabeth Proctor were right in the middle of all the mess that was brought to Salem... John's servant, Mary Warren, was friends with Abigail, the Proctors' old servant who was forced out by Elizabeth for her belief that John had had some lapse in judgement concerning Abby.  Abigail's uncle, Reverend Parris, also had a hand in the actions leading up to the witchcraft trials.  He was supposed to be the Pastor of the town but not many people believed in him much by this time.  I suppose he tried his best to be a good man but didn't quite make it.  People's negativity and vulnerability were the biggest contributors to the events of the fall of 1692.  Every one of those people was gentle in their own way, but their struggle to continue to be alive resulted in the death of a few.
    In one way or another, society is extremely fragile and some of the most terrible attrocities are committed in the name of the Lord... It is apparent in history since the beginning of time and will probably never change.  Both of these things greatly influenced Miller's script.  Please join us on our journey through this dark time in our nation's history.  It will be enlightening, perhaps insightful, and certainly not boring.  We all hope that you enjoy our version of this American classic: Arthur Miller's, The Crucible.

The World of the Play, Project 2.

The World View, 1685-1695

1685: Johann Sebastian Bach was born on March 21

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Sebastian_Bach

1687: Sir Isaac Newton publishes Principia, which covered the basic laws of gravity and how objects respond to it

http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blnewton.htm

1688: James II was overthrown a mere 3 years after being named King

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/pepys_samuel.shtml

1689: William of Orange ascends the throne over England, Scotland, and Ireland

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17th_century

The Country View, 1685-1695

1687: William Penn writes/publishes "The Excellent Privilege of Liberty and Property"

1690: King William's War spreads from Europe to the colonies

http://americanhistory.about.com/library/timelines/bltimeline1675.htm

1690: Schenectady Massacre: attack led by the French and Indians on Schenectady, a village in New York

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schenectady_Massacre

1693: College of William and Mary was founded

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_College_of_William_%26_Mary



Images, 1670-1695

Tituba and the Children, 1878

http://www.hauntedamericatours.com/ghoststories/GallowsHillGhosts/images/tituba-the-witch.jpg&imgrefurl

The Salem Martyr, 1869

http://www2.iath.virginia.edu/salem/generic.html 

The Execution of Mrs. Ann Hibbins, 1886

http://www2.iath.virginia.edu/salem/generic.html

The Salem Witch House, 2008

http://mass.historicbuildingsct.com/?p=103

Grave of John Proctor, 2011

http://americanstudies2011.wikispaces.com/The+Real+John+Proctor-AS+2011

Colonial Chair, late 17th century

http://www.colonialfurniture.us/history/history-early-american-colonial-furniture-145.htm

Boston Mill, 2009

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/exploreamerica/usroadtrip_2003/1056219540/tpod.html

Sounds, 1670-1695

 Pachelbel's Canon in D, 1694
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK6heUdRr-E

Ballad of Barbara Allen, 1670-ish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um3SWeiug6s

The Girl I Left Behind Me, 1650 - 1865
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RrKtgTvOFM

Casting Statement, Project 1. (continued)

   

Casting the Play

    The Crucible by Arthur Miller was written and first produced on Broadway in 1953.  It tells the story of a late seventeenth century Salem, Massachusetts and its battle with "witchcraft."  It is largely based on the actual witchcraft trials of 1692, in which twenty (or more) men and women were hanged for practicing witchcraft.  The characters range in age from twelve to about 80 and are of all shapes and sizes.  I believe color, however, will be a different matter.
    The opening scene of The Crucible starts in the home of Reverend Parris, in his middle to late thirties.  His daughter, Betty, is the youngest of the girls in the show at age 12.  Tituba, a slave from Barbados, is in her middle sixties.  In the first act the audience is introduced to a slew of characters, including John Proctor, the lead of the script.  He is said to be anywhere from age thirty-five to about forty-two.  In a professional theatre setting with the amount of performers who audition, each  role could be played by someone who actually is the age of the character... It is not a physically demanding show, so men and women character over the age of sixty can be portrayed by actors the same age.  It does not necessarily have to be that way, however... If there are a ton of young men and women who audition, they could definitely be cast as any of the characters.  The younger roles, Betty, Abigail, and Mary should be cast as young women up to age twenty-five.
    The weight or shape or appearance of any performer does not matter for this production.  Being Colonial America, however, many of the younger men and women were what we would consider skinny.  The older characters, Tituba and Francis and Rebecca Nurse, can definitely be heavy set if the casting director chooses them to be so.  There is no such thing as unattractive actor, so every type of performer is more than welcome to audition.
    There are some color issues in The Crucible, though.  One character, Tituba, is a slave and is stated to be dark... which is fitting and accurate for the time period, as she is the first to be accused of witch craft.  It also works the other way around.  It would be unlogical to cast John, Elizabeth, or any other large role using someone of color.  All of these men and women were English and not servants, historically making them caucasian.  That being said if you are someone that is not white, it will not effect what role you may be cast as.  If the casting director sees fit to do the show using color-blind casting, then so be it.
    The Crucible is a beautiful show written about a dark time in our country's history.  We are and will be striving to do this script and its author justice in our performance and interpretation of it.  Miller's show is a classic and has been since it was first published... Hopefully, we are able to beautifully honor his memory and the memory of those murdered in the fateful summer and fall of 1692.

Fable and Plot Summary, Project 1. (continued)

The Fable

The Crucible begins in the house of Reverend Parris by his daughter, Betty’s, bedside.  Betty, a young lady of 13 years old, has not awoken since the previous night when her father happened upon her and some other young girls dancing naked in the woods with Tituba, a slave woman of Parris from Barbados.  Parris has sent for Reverend Hale of Beverly to come check out the status of his daughter for fear that she has been put under the power of the Devil.  Abigail, Parris’ niece, enters and he confronts her with the information of the night before.  Abigail, 17, denies it and says they were just having fun.  As Parris exits, Abby shakes and hits Betty in hopes of waking her up… She does awaken then goes right back into her state of silence.  Townspeople show up including the Putnams, Rebecca Nurse, and John Proctor all stating that it has something to do with witchcraft.  Eventually, Betty wakes up again and attempts to fly out the window.  The scene ends with the arrival of Reverend Hale and his assumptions of what has happened to the young girl.

The second act begins in the house of John Proctor.  His wife, Elizabeth, has been waiting his return.  They talk and discuss the happenings of what’s been going on in town for the past few days.  Mary Warren shows up with a poppet (voo-doo doll) that she has made while spending a day in court and gives it to Elizabeth.  Mary is dismissed to go to bed.  Reverend Hale comes to speak to John and begins to think that the Proctor family may be involved in witchcraft.  They spent months away from church, and John cannot remember all of the commandments.  In the middle of that conversation, Cheever comes to take Elizabeth away to jail.  He finds the poppet and to John’s dismay, drags Elizabeth into prison with the other men and women accused of being witches.

Eventually, many of the people in town are accused of being witches including Giles Corey, Rebecca Nurse, and John Proctor.  They are all put in jail and awaiting trial.  As the trial approaches, some of the accused falsely confess and others keep their mouths shut.  When the town finds out that Elizabeth is pregnant- they decide to let her live.  John is not so lucky.  His trial goes awry with all of the young women claiming that he has witched them.  Abigail is leading the fake crusade… Elizabeth is the last to testify on John’s behalf.  They decide to let him off if he will sign the government paper confessing to witchcraft.  He does not.

          The play ends with the death of John Proctor.

The Plot Summary

            In the Puritan New England town of Salem, Massachusetts, a group of girls goes dancing in the forest with a black slave named Tituba. While dancing, they are caught by the local minister, Reverend Parris. One of the girls, Parris’s daughter Betty, falls into a coma-like state. A crowd gathers in the Parris home while rumors of witchcraft fill the town. Having sent for Reverend Hale, an expert on witchcraft, Parris questions Abigail Williams, the girls’ ringleader, about the events that took place in the forest. Abigail, who is Parris’s niece and ward, admits to doing nothing beyond “dancing.”

While Parris tries to calm the crowd that has gathered in his home, Abigail talks to some of the other girls, telling them not to admit to anything. John Proctor, a local farmer, then enters and talks to Abigail alone. Unbeknownst to anyone else in the town, while working in Proctor’s home the previous year she engaged in an affair with him, which led to her being fired by his wife, Elizabeth. Abigail still desires Proctor, but he fends her off and tells her to end her foolishness with the girls.

Betty wakes up and begins screaming. Much of the crowd rushes upstairs and gathers in her bedroom, arguing over whether she is bewitched. A separate argument between Proctor, Parris, the argumentative Giles Corey, and the wealthy Thomas Putnam soon ensues. This dispute centers on money and land deeds, and it suggests that deep fault lines run through the Salem community. As the men argue, Reverend Hale arrives and examines Betty, while Proctor departs. Hale quizzes Abigail about the girls’ activities in the forest, grows suspicious of her behavior, and demands to speak to Tituba. After Parris and Hale interrogate her for a brief time, Tituba confesses to communing with the devil, and she hysterically accuses various townsfolk of consorting with the devil. Suddenly, Abigail joins her, confessing to having seen the devil conspiring and cavorting with other townspeople. Betty joins them in naming witches, and the crowd is thrown into an uproar.

A week later, alone in their farmhouse outside of town, John and Elizabeth Proctor discuss the ongoing trials and the escalating number of townsfolk who have been accused of being witches. Elizabeth urges her husband to denounce Abigail as a fraud; he refuses, and she becomes jealous, accusing him of still harboring feelings for her. Mary Warren, their servant and one of Abigail’s circle, returns from Salem with news that Elizabeth has been accused of witchcraft but the court did not pursue the accusation. Mary is sent up to bed, and John and Elizabeth continue their argument, only to be interrupted by a visit from Reverend Hale. While they discuss matters, Giles Corey and Francis Nurse come to the Proctor home with news that their wives have been arrested. Officers of the court suddenly arrive and arrest Elizabeth. After they have taken her, Proctor browbeats Mary, insisting that she must go to Salem and expose Abigail and the other girls as frauds.

The next day, Proctor brings Mary to court and tells Judge Danforth that she will testify that the girls are lying. Danforth is suspicious of Proctor’s motives and tells Proctor, truthfully, that Elizabeth is pregnant and will be spared for a time. Proctor persists in his charge, convincing Danforth to allow Mary to testify. Mary tells the court that the girls are lying. When the girls are brought in, they turn the tables by accusing Mary of bewitching them. Furious, Proctor confesses his affair with Abigail and accuses her of being motivated by jealousy of his wife. To test Proctor’s claim, Danforth summons Elizabeth and asks her if Proctor has been unfaithful to her. Despite her natural honesty, she lies to protect Proctor’s honor, and Danforth denounces Proctor as a liar. Meanwhile, Abigail and the girls again pretend that Mary is bewitching them, and Mary breaks down and accuses Proctor of being a witch. Proctor rages against her and against the court. He is arrested, and Hale quits the proceedings.

The summer passes and autumn arrives. The witch trials have caused unrest in neighboring towns, and Danforth grows nervous. Abigail has run away, taking all of Parris’s money with her. Hale, who has lost faith in the court, begs the accused witches to confess falsely in order to save their lives, but they refuse. Danforth, however, has an idea: he asks Elizabeth to talk John into confessing, and she agrees. Conflicted, but desiring to live, John agrees to confess, and the officers of the court rejoice. But he refuses to incriminate anyone else, and when the court insists that the confession must be made public, Proctor grows angry, tears it up, and retracts his admission of guilt. Despite Hale’s desperate pleas, Proctor goes to the gallows with the others, and the witch trials reach their awful conclusion.

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/crucible/summary.html