Cappies Review: The Crucible at Thomas Jefferson

Women accused of witchcraft, young girls seemingly possessed, vicious and falsified trials… it seems that the Devil has come to Salem, Massachusetts. This weekend’s production of the 1953 play “The Crucible” at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology paid tribute to this chilling and heart-wrenching story. The actors worked well together to create a simple, yet solid performance.

Written by Arthur Miller, “The Crucible” depicts the real events of the Salem witch trials that occurred in Salem, Massachusetts in the laTE 1600’s. The play also serves as an allegory to McCarthyism in the United States during the Cold War, and seeks to provide social commentary on the unfair trials that occurred. The original production won the Tony award for Best Play in 1953, and since then has spread to theaters throughout the nation.

Thomas Jefferson’s production, while simplistic, was effective in telling the events of the show. The actors’ clear love for theater was evident in their performance and their unity as a cast was prominent. They were banded by a common purpose, which added greatly to the show’s messages of truth and honor.

The most notable performer of the night was undoubtedly Keegan Cotton. His portrayal of John Procter, a man convicted of doing the Devil’s work after merely defending his wife, was flawless. Cotton’s ability to harness his emotions made his performance so wonderfully real that he put the audience under a spell each time he entered the stage.  With acting abilities far beyond his years, Cotton moved the audience and led the entire show perfectly. Also notable was Elena Lagon who played John Proctor’s wife, Elizabeth Proctor. Her character development and raw talent brought the audience to tears numerous times. Additionally, the chemistry between Cotton and Lagon was immaculate, allowing the audience to believe every moment they had together onstage.

Malaika Murphy-Sierra was another standout performance as the Proctor’s young maid, Mary Warren. She perfectly portrayed the character’s inner conflicts, and her character development throughout the play was beautifully executed. The rest of the actors at times lacked energy and failed to motivate character choices and actions, however they accurately portrayed their intended characters in a way that managed to captivate the audience.

The technical aspects of this show were minimal and left much open to the imagination. While this is in an interesting idea, it might have been more effective to take advantage of lighting and sound to enhance the mood onstage and to hide the obvious scene changes. Additionally, the actors did not use microphones, making them at times hard to hear.

Overall, Thomas Jefferson’s production of “The Crucible” was pure and honest, much like the ideals promoted in the show itself. The three lead actors and actresses lead an ensemble whose love of theater united them. While technically the show was spare, the production itself left an impact on those who saw it.

By Michelle Huey of Walt Whitman High School through the high school Cappies program, the critics and awards program for high school theater. In this program, high school students are trained as critics, attend shows at other schools and write reviews for local newspapers. At the end of the year, student critics vote for awards that are presented at a formal Cappies Gala.