A spirit is alive in The Crucible

Fun Fact: In 1956 playwright Arthur Miller married actress Marilyn Monroe, their marriage lasted five years.

Target Audience: Avid theatre goers will relish in this classic play as well as those new to theatre, of course horror junkies will get a thrill in this too.

Feel-o-meter: Horrified that so many innocent lives were taken, and wondering where all those spirits linger… (evil laugh)

Standout Actor: Jim Norton (Giles Corey) is captivating in his truthful portrayal.

Verdict: This play has started strong in previews and will no doubt expand under the guidance of Von Hove and the impeccable cast.

Arthur Miller’s The Crucible opens March 31st for a limited engagement of 20 weeks. It is a play that many of us have either heard of, or seen before and I highly recommend seeing this new version of the classic on Broadway. If not for the reason that Arthur Miller was a prolific American playwright and essayist, then see it for the performances, for the historic horrors of Salem, and for the direction by Ivo Van Hove who recently directed Miller's A View From The Bridge on Broadway.

The house lights fall and the stage is lit in a way that transforms the room. It is airy, cold and Jan Versweyveld (scenic and lighting design) has already made her mark - one which will consistently and creatively guide the story along. In a play that shifts between themes of light and dark I am somewhat relieved that the lighting design is evidently sophisticated too. Before the performance, I'd had a full day of sightseeing with a friend and could not feel more like a tourist with my tired feet, shopping bags and overall fatigue. It occurred to me that this show may be too 'heavy' to take in after a full day of whizzing around, but I then remind myself that a large part of the Broadway audience goers are tourists after all. As we settled into our seats I was intrigued to see how this experience will differ from my usual theatre routine and, as the lights fell my friend also immediately sensed the shift in mood, whispering “You know I hate scary things!”

The Crucible is so intriguing to me as many people find horror an unbearable genre, and although I am one of them, Miller's play asks us to look beyond the idea of ghosts and spirits and into our own darkness, our own power. He transports us to Salem where innocent women were accused of witchery, forced to admit guilt and then killed. A truly horrible and factual episode which took place in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. As we meet these characters of Salem and see the inconsistent evidence which leads to the demise of these women under the authority of ego-driven men and community hysteria, the hard truth is that we, the audience, have been privy to prejudice in some form or another, and the question is posed what do we do about it? Miller's play challenges you to see the light and dark of each character, and hopefully of yourself.

The actors have handled this script delicately and I am sure by opening night the melodrama in a few scenes will subside, giving further success to the play. Ben Whishaw (John Proctor) leads the way with a strong performance and it wasn't until the second act that I could pinpoint what it was that felt 'different' about him against the other actors. A difference in tempo and rhythm which feels very 'English' and polished, he has refined his character and at times the cast is left behind. His relationship with wife Sophie Okonedo (Elizabeth Proctor) lacked chemistry; however, given their talents I am sure this too will be resolved by opening.

Saoirse Ronan (Abigail Williams) has been the face of this production's marketing campaign and given her recent success in the film Brooklyn there is huge pressure as she makes her Broadway debut. She plays the role of Abigail well; she is sensual and conniving, offering just enough innocence to ensure a convincing characterization. A merciless bully with a twisted imagination for excitement. Tavi Gevinson (Mary Warren) is another young star in this play who deserves praise for her role, she is committed, steady and once she finds her voice this performance will be even more effective.

The Crucible has been staged as to not indicate a time in which the story plays out, a challenging task for the costume department, and yet the costumes were excellent. Wojciech Dziedzic (Costume Design) has created a beautiful wardrobe despite their drab colors which one moment looked like a line we could see on the streets of Soho and then in another, a reflection of 1962 Salem. This is Dziedzic's first Broadway production, he has worked on many international productions and I hope to see more of his creativity.

Every department has clearly understood Ivo Von Hove's vision of The Crucible, and it is certainly worth seeing, despite any fears or resistance you may have to it's 'evil' themes.

Reviewed by Nicola Quinn

March 15th 2016
Walter Kerr Theatre, New York City
Find me on Twitter: @newyorktheatre

View our show pages for more information about The Crucible, Walter Kerr Theater.