The spotlight will be on the divisive toll shame and deceit take on a close-knit community as Salina Central High School Theatre presents Arthur Miller's The Crucible.
The final show of the season is scheduled for 7 p.m. April 23 and 24 and 2:30 p.m. April 25 in the school's auditorium. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students, and can be purchased ahead of time to reduce a wait at the box office. The audience will be socially distanced by at least two rows, so seating will be limited to under 25 percent capacity.
Other safety measures will be implemented, including the wearing of masks by the performers, staff, and audience throughout the production. Hand sanitizer will be available at the entrances.
About the play
Set in 1692, Miller's The Crucible chronicles the divisive toll shame and deceit take on the otherwise close-knit Puritan community of Salem, Mass.
The community's minister, Rev. Samuel Parris, fears the presence of witchcraft haunts his parish after discovering a number of the town's youth dancing in the woods, his daughter and niece, Abigail Williams, among them. Fearing the worst, and seeking to conceal any impropriety that might tarnish his own name, Parris turns to noted witch hunter Rev. John Hale to discover the cause of the devilish commotion.
Hale's investigation, due to the naïve and diabolic actions of the Salem’s youth and adults alike, only further reveals a blemish upon human nature for which Abigail is all too familiar and no longer has patience: hypocrisy. Misguided public accusation threatens the privacy of personal faults, namely those of community paragon John Proctor. As The Crucible’s heat intensifies, Proctor, in an attempt to free Elizabeth, his wife, from the witch-hunt’s desperate condemnation, is forced to confront the toll hypocrisy has taken on his own marriage, community, soul, and good name.
Inspired by the actual events of the Salem Witch Trials, The Crucible personalizes the gravity of its historical context by laying bare the lengths to which a community can go to tear itself apart.
"People should come see The Crucible, not just because it’s a classic, but also because the subject matter is so relevant today, and I think our interpretation adds something fresh,” said Sophie Lenkiewicz, who portrays Elizabeth Proctor.
"The Crucible digs into human behavior, and it has pushed me and my peers to grow as actors to portray the story and characters. Everyone has been working to the best of their abilities to put this show on," added Tobi Duckworth, who portrays Giles Corey. "It's a dark show, but it is definitely worth coming to see!
Cast and crew
The cast is comprised of 22 actors. They are as follows.
Joshua Cunningham, senior, as John Proctor
Ethan Henry, junior, as Rev. John Hale
Sophie Lenkiewicz, senior, as Elizabeth Proctor
Vidhi Bhakta, junior, as Abigail Williams
Harper Johnston, sophomore, as Mary Warren
Spencer Angell, senior, as Deputy Governor Danforth
Ben Campbell, freshman, as Judge Hathorne
Charles Goldbach, junior, as Ezekiel Cheever
Josh Warner, junior, as Rev. Samuel Parris
Joelle Pfannenstiel, senior, as Betty Parris
Lillie Myers, junior, as Mercy Lewis
Bailey Talbott, senior, as Susannah Walcott
Erin Flax, senior, as Ann Putnam
Tayge Jones, sophomore, as Thomas Putnam
Kasheia Peterson, freshman, as Tituba
Cyric Dow, senior, as Francis Nurse
Hana North, senior, as Rebecca Nurse
Tobi Duckworth, senior, as Giles Corey
Chloe Highsmith, sophomore, as the Sarah Good
Will Ebel, freshman, as John Willard
Maddison Farthing, junior, as a Girl of Salem
Camille Morris, sophomore, as a Girl of Salem
Additionally, a number of students worked on the production crew. They are as follows.
Isabella Rubino, senior, stage manager
Peyton Wood, junior, assistant stage manager
Nelson Gutsch, senior, light design
Vy Le, sophomore, sound board operator
Will Ebel, freshman
Jack Angell, sophomore, light board operator
Emma Kelly, junior, costume crew
Lin Miller, freshman, costume crew/props manager
Amelia Coykendoll, sophomore, house manger
The production is directed by Bryce Jones. Barbara Hilt serves as production manager and technical director.