Chronicle January 2021

36 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Arguably, the scenes between John Proctor and his wife Elizabeth, masterfully portrayed by Will Cruddas and Jenifer Ellis, are the most humanising moments of the play. The physical limitations demanded by social distancing measures highlight the rift between them. Elizabeth’s modest and reserved demeanour contrasts with the passion of the earlier meeting of John and Abigail, the haunting psalm sung by the village echoing against the pleading of Abigail, foreshadowing the ‘Christian’ vengeance that is to come. The arrival of Reverend Hale, the irony of John’s misremembrance of the imperative ‘Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery’ and Elizabeth’s gentle reminder with a turn of her head away from him, emphasise how religious piety is synonymous with innocence in Salem. Ezekiel Cheever, portrayed by Joseph Osei, is measured and contrasts with John Proctor and Giles Corey who are full of anger at the persecution of their wives. His discovery of the poppet and of the needle changes his countenance, however, as it underlines the excitement of some of the villagers. Mary Warren, in an expert performance by Tiggy Jones, cowers against the intensity of John’s anger as he struggles with the potential condemnation of his wife. The rise and fall of John’s voice portrays his inner turmoil at the havoc that Abigail appears to be wreaking in his name and is mirrored in the motion of the switch. He berates Mary, realising that she knows his sin and that there may be salvation for his wife yet. The arrival of Ben Neville as Deputy Governor Danforth, clipped and precise, the

epitome of law and order, not only serves as a mouthpiece for the higher powers, but also hastens Reverend Hale’s disillusionment with the trials in Salem. The innocent downcast girls tremble under his questioning and imposing presence, but it remains in their power to turn Mary back to their cause and the impossibility of a reprieve becomes apparent. Mary throws an unsettling physical fit of hysteria, while using the wheedling tones of a woman trying to save her own soul. As a result of this disloyalty, John, once strong and imposing, cries out ‘whore’ and breaks down as his sin is exposed. He buries his head in his hands to hide his shame as Abigail cowers on the floor beneath him. Her piercing scream and the mimicry of Mary’s raptures bring her back into the fold, making us aware of the power of the many over the few, and the futility of John’s sacrifice. At the denouement of the play, John and Elizabeth’s last meeting is bittersweet, both of them broken and shackled with little hope for their future. The emotional turmoil surfaces as John is confronted by the demanding Deputy Governor Danforth. His intense cry of frustration and resentment over the corruption of his name and legacy pierces the theatre, as he clings onto the writ that will be his undoing. This followed by his collapse and tearing of his confession in atonement for his sins brings the narrative full circle. As darkness falls and the names of those who died flash up on the screen over the spotlit victims, the girls skip and giggle through the accused, carefree and happy as the first day they danced in the woods for the devil.

The Crucible causes us to question our own mortality, and the ripple effect of hysteria and paranoia and their consequences. The production was a commendable exposé of human fragility and the nature of honesty and integrity, masterfully brought to life in The North Wall. Congratulations to the cast and crew for creating such a powerful performance in unprecedented times. Until the next!

Cast (In order of appearance) Reverend Parris Julian Ford Betty Parris Millie Jones Tituba Omolara Sowande

Abigail Williams Abi Drennan Susannah Walcott Eva Lamb Ann Putnam and Sarah Good Freya Burdon Thomas Putnam Theo Weldon Mercy Lewis Jemima Paganuzzi Mary Warren Tiggy Jones John Proctor Will Cruddas Rebecca Nurse Nia Willis Giles Corey Keegan Boyd Reverend John Hale Charlie Scales Elizabeth Proctor Jenifer Ellis Ezekiel Cheever Joseph Osei Deputy Governor Danforth Ben Neville Creatives Lighting Designer James Bailey Set Designer Clive Stevenson Sound Designer Jack Fairbrother and Molly Sewell Music Bligh Henshilwood and Zach Davis Assistant Director Phoebe Simmonds Scenic Artist Milly Dagnell Artwork Archie Screech-Dean Production Team Technical Manager Clive Stevenson Stage Manager Rebecca Welburn Deputy Stage Manager Philippa Clack Assistant Stage Managers Christina Sternby and Molly Gyss Assistant to the LX Designer Max Maddox Lighting Operator Daniela Olinic Sound & AV Operator Audrey Li Wardrobe Supervisor Katrina Eden Special thanks to: Joanna Aldred, Ernest Lennon, Lawrence Tao, Amy Walters, Bristol Costume Services and Tim Hand Productions Producer Katrina Eden Director David Aldred