The set by Josh Smith is all jagged edges, slopes, and sharp points emanating from the proscenium arch out over the playing space. In fact, a strength of this production is just how much humor the ensemble manages to find in this dramatic text.
The cast overall was strong (full disclosure: KDHX critic Chuck Lavazzi is one of them), but another actor worth singling out is Gerry Love who brought much needed humor to the play as Giles Corey. Both Shaw and Wright deserve a great deal of credit for making that moment as powerful as it was since Tituba's confession can often seem an almost minstrel-like performance. In a key scene between Reverend Hale and Tituba, I was able to see Tituba decide that she was going to lie in order to survive, making Tituba a character with agency. Tituba, a servant from Barbados, was played powerfully by Kelli Wright. Shaw gave his character a sincerity that made the town's witch hunt more understandable. One of these actors in particular, Abraham Shaw playing Reverend John Hale, brought a great depth to the role. For instance, Bell cast a number of people of color in parts typically given to white actors. Bell's direction managed to seem faithful to the play's origin while playing to modern drama's strengths. It's rare that a new play would have four acts and a cast of 21. The whole script feels like a beautiful museum piece from the 1950s, and that added to my interest watching the production. This strong choice works better in some parts of the script than others, but it made me much more sympathetic to a character whose gender politics do not hold up in 2019 as well as they did when the play was first performed in 1953. Linderer makes Abigail less of a villain, and more of a young woman who is genuinely damaged by John Proctor's poor treatment. Completing the play's love triangle is Alison Linderer as Abigail Williams.
Cynthia Pohlson, playing Elizabeth Proctor, gives the performance of the evening as a strong but wounded woman who is trying to keep her family together. Graham Emmons portrays John Proctor as a guilty, wounded man who, from the beginning, is trying to win back his wife's heart. Bell's direction and the solid acting and design elements make the time fly by like binge watching four episodes of an online streaming drama. The play's four acts clock in at a total of 3.5 hours including three intermissions, but the quick pacing of Gary F. The familiar tale takes place in 1692 Salem, Massachusetts, centering on the farmer John Proctor whose lies ultimately undo his household and the town itself. Arthur Miller's classic drama "The Crucible" is getting a faithful revival at Stray Dog Theatre, with a few modern updates.
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