Richmond Theatre 13 – 15 April UK tour. Reviewed by Claire Roderick
The Crucible, set in the Salem Witch trials of 1692, where bitter neighbours jump on the bandwagon of vengeance, hysteria and tyranny, blaming the most vulnerable for their own misfortune, was Arthur Miller’s brilliant allegoric response to the McCarthy era. Modern parallels are clear, making the judges pronouncements and denouncements seem frighteningly familiar.
Director Douglas Rintoul has created a dark and moody production, with Anouk Schiltz’s imposing wooden set adding to the atmosphere of brooding tension. Even the set changes are impressive, with the cast all working together like an Amish barn raising. The only flourish Rintoul has indulges in is the projection of occasional stage directions, which works wonderfully, and the thrumming sound design, which sometimes made it feel as if there was a night club below the theatre and drowned out some dialogue. The placing of the microphones was almost inspired, creating an echoey tone that gave the actors’ words great weight, but should, perhaps, have been turned down in the shoutier scenes, as it gave the speeches a strident, irritating feel.
The strong cast was headed by Eoin Slattery as John Proctor, bringing a lightness to the character that is rarely seen, but still showing his strength and guilt convincingly. Victoria Yeates is a devastatingly noble Elizabeth and Lucy Keirl is full of malicious energy as Abigail. As Reverend Hale, Charlie Condou gives a wonderfully measured portrayal of a good man gradually realising that his faith in justice has been misplaced. Jonathan Tafler gets to chew the scenery as Judge Danforth, full of self-righteous rhetoric, delivered with relish and producing gasps of disbelief from the audience.
This touring production isn’t exactly a barrel of laughs (although David Delve delivers quite a few as Giles Corey), but if you’re looking for an intelligent, atmospheric and relevant play, The Crucible should be at the top of your list.
UK Tour dates: Brighton, 24 – 29 April
Manchester, 8 – 13 May
Birmingham, 5 – 10 June
Glasgow, 12 – 17 June