Do you want to put on a play that is both interesting and relevant to modern society? Well, then I strongly advise you to choose “The Crucible” for the next school play. Published in 1952, during a period of cold war tensions, which culminated in the ideological "witch trials" of the McCarthy era in America; the allegorical play, The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, is set in Salem Massechutsets, in 1692, during the Salem Witch Trials. This play is dramatically appealing due to its unusual plot structure,use of dramatic irony and the tension between characters. Although this play is set in the 17th century, it continues to remain relevant to modern society and the staging is beneficial for the school economically. Therefore, I strongly recommend
…show more content…
In the play, there is extreme tension between characters. One example of this is the tension between Abigail and Elizebeth Proctor. Williams is a manipulative whore with a narcissistic personality. She skillfully gets Elizebeth Proctor accused of witchcraft by using a poppet and stabbing herself with a pin. This increases the hysteria of the other characters, which in turn, engages the audience. One feature that also increases the engagement of the audience, even more, is dramatic irony. Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows something the characters do not. Due to this understanding, the words of the characters take on a different meaning. This can create intense suspense or humor. The audience knows that Williams is deliberately taking advantage of the witch trials to get John Proctor back. The rest of the characters believe that Elizebeth has actually committed an act of witchcraft. The audience knows more than the characters, therefore, they are more engaged. Furthermore, In The Crucible, the strong juxtaposition between characters and the fact that the protagonist and antagonist are easily discernable engages the audience. The main character in the play who the audience identifies with is the protagonist. In the case of the crucible, there are two different types of protagonists; flawed protagonists, such as John Proctor and …show more content…
This is due to the simplicity of the sets,lighting and costuming. In The Crucible each act is set in a small room (eg. Bedroom,dining room,courtroom,jail cell). This is beneficial because there is no need for large or elaborate sets. The rooms could be set up with donated furniture and simple props. The simplicity of the puritan life would work to the school’s advantage because it would be inexpensive and easy to recreate. The simplicity of puritan clothing would also be of advantage to the school’s budget. Girls could wear a simple black shirt with a long sleeve top. Boys could wear black trousers and cheap button up shirts. All of these can be supplied by the students from home, thus reducing costs. The simple, black and white colour of puritan clothing allows the audience to focus on the dialogue and irony of the play. Arthur Miller is very specific about the lighting and sound effects that he wants. These clear instructions work to the IT department’s advantage because they are not professional directors. They can create a professional production using these instructions from Miller. I strongly recommend that you choose The Crucible because of its extreme economic advantages, due to it’s simplistic staging
In the play, there is extreme tension between characters. One example of this is the tension between Abigail and Elizebeth Proctor. Williams is a manipulative whore with a narcissistic personality. She skillfully gets Elizebeth Proctor accused of witchcraft by using a poppet and stabbing herself with a pin. This increases the hysteria of the other characters, which in turn, engages the audience. One feature that also increases the engagement of the audience, even more, is dramatic irony. Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows something the characters do not. Due to this understanding, the words of the characters take on a different meaning. This can create intense suspense or humor. The audience knows that Williams is deliberately taking advantage of the witch trials to get John Proctor back. The rest of the characters believe that Elizebeth has actually committed an act of witchcraft. The audience knows more than the characters, therefore, they are more engaged. Furthermore, In The Crucible, the strong juxtaposition between characters and the fact that the protagonist and antagonist are easily discernable engages the audience. The main character in the play who the audience identifies with is the protagonist. In the case of the crucible, there are two different types of protagonists; flawed protagonists, such as John Proctor and …show more content…
This is due to the simplicity of the sets,lighting and costuming. In The Crucible each act is set in a small room (eg. Bedroom,dining room,courtroom,jail cell). This is beneficial because there is no need for large or elaborate sets. The rooms could be set up with donated furniture and simple props. The simplicity of the puritan life would work to the school’s advantage because it would be inexpensive and easy to recreate. The simplicity of puritan clothing would also be of advantage to the school’s budget. Girls could wear a simple black shirt with a long sleeve top. Boys could wear black trousers and cheap button up shirts. All of these can be supplied by the students from home, thus reducing costs. The simple, black and white colour of puritan clothing allows the audience to focus on the dialogue and irony of the play. Arthur Miller is very specific about the lighting and sound effects that he wants. These clear instructions work to the IT department’s advantage because they are not professional directors. They can create a professional production using these instructions from Miller. I strongly recommend that you choose The Crucible because of its extreme economic advantages, due to it’s simplistic staging