Community Corner

Witch Hunt! 'The Crucible' Brings the Heat to Laguna Beach High

Arthur Miller's classic drama gets the Park Avenue Players treatment starting this Friday.

Submitted by Tad Heitmann:

Laguna Beach High School's Park Avenue Players have forged their own innovative and intense interpretation of Arthur Miller's classic American cautionary tale, THE CRUCIBLE, which opens a seven-performance run on Friday, May 24, at 7:30 PM.

Featuring an entirely original prologue depicting the forbidden events that unleash the subsequent hysteria, the production also places the audience in close proximity to all the action with seating directly on the Artists Theatre stage.

One of the most important plays in the history of American literature, Miller's searing recreation of the Salem witch trials was written as an allegory of the evils of McCarthyism, which he himself endured.

Set in late 17th century Massachusetts, THE CRUCIBLE explores the dynamics of inquisitorial power, the impact of ignorance and intolerance, and the manipulation of fear and self-preservation, as the accusations of witchcraft fly and the innocent are judged.

In the 60 years since its original staging, and despite its historical setting, the play has lost none of its relevance.

"THE CRUCIBLE is so enduring because it is an extraordinary play about difficult, and unfortunately, timeless subjects. Most High School students read it in their Junior year and get some sense of its literary and historical significance, but to perform it, to bring it to life, to really get inside these characters and their motivations, is another matter entirely," said Mark Dressler, who co-directed the production with Amanda Saunders.

"We live in our own age of anxiety and these young actors have seen contemporary examples of paranoia, intolerance, and injustice at work in the world.  They brought these observations to their roles and are delivering performances with stunning authenticity and great emotional power that will really connect with the audience, including their peers."

The Park Avenue Players have also brought their own, fresh interpretation to the structure of the play itself.

Student musicians Dylan DelPizzo-Howell and Elliot Glass developed an original percussive score that amplifies the emotional intensity of the drama.  Working with choreographer Erika Whalen, these musical collaborators have also fashioned a new opening prologue for the show that recreates the dance in the forest that sets conservative Salem ablaze with witchcraft fever.

"We have created, literally from scratch, a haunting and intriguing re-enactment of the young girls of Salem conjuring in the woods," said choreographer and assistant director Erika Whalen. "Our intention was to heighten the stakes for the girls, for the course of the rest of the show - to really show where they came from through their participation in this event. Adding this new material also sets the tone of the whole play and draws the audience in from the very first moment."

THE CRUCIBLE by Arthur Miller.  Directed by Amanda Saunders and Mark Dressler.  Choreographer and Assistant Director,  Erika Whalen.  Technical Director, Peter Roche.Costumes/props supervised by Angela Irish.  Set and lighting design by Peter Roche and Mark Dressler.  Original score by Dylan DelPizzo-Howell and Elliott Glass.  Presented with exclusive permission of Dramatists Play Service.

Performances on May 24, 25, 30 and 31 and June 1 at 7:30 p.m.; May 26 and June 2 at 2:30 p.m.

Students $10, Adults $15.

Ticket sales from the LBHS Box Office, which will be open at 4:00 PM for Thursday and Friday performances and 2 hours before Saturday evening and Sunday matinee shows. Call 949-497-7769 for more information.


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