University of South Carolina Libraries
SITE OF THE PAY I Pain and Suffering! I www.shownomercy.com! Workshop's AA|A UC|JIUIo bUlU Director Clarence Felder's re tale highlights themes of treac M1KEY STUTZ Staff Writer ? Arthur Miller's acclaimed play, The Crucible, opened Friday at Columbia's Workshop Theater, located at 1136 Bull St. c The play will be running through Feb. 13, and it features Jerry Jewler, a USC professor of journalism, y in the role of Francis Nurse The play is set in Puritan, 17th century Salem, Mass., y c " ~ % "ill A V WKk' liiaiii F ' WM .. t- IHijSi ifl c Bk i i ] Hi SPECIAL TO THE GAMECOCK ' Based on the Salem witchcraft trials, The Crucible'1 r??ns from Jan?i?rv 91-Febn<ary l?th at *Vorkshot>. r > ?av? r, \..ln Race Ri nl^Ali^Y * rt*f** *^__ M ??tfffij*\ challenges an ^|lsXli) ^^7^ thoughts and !ilh/>i7B:iyj?j?m:I spirit, rekindt ft- PfRfWSOKOfPENOIIK ON DESTINATION / BWAKOAltS / LENGTH Of STAY M vl-800-SWNCHASE: toll rszc mtowlaikw ft unmix?s J aM ft- WT THE WEI Kf. http://www.ninchm.coni MYRTLE BEACH to mt 71 llfggll Shakespean ""mJ^Tbu cteorperspec' MOKSSm ?<???<?>" T4 jnvss'Ji -**? LODGING PARTY prescription FOR EVERY FS 800-714-8687 rule. He gio RATIOMALITY W umjuj.firstaueiisa.coni in# u;Ay our , c?o to allevia mm U71ICDC M A II c ADCU7AD17C AC ADT TT I lljiM-/ 11 niLAj ru\i^ ttwimvo VI / v*x * Special Offer for USC Students: $25 for full set of nails -jp, $15 lor fill-ins KlUS! $2 off a manicure $5 off a pedicure Walk-ins or appointments welcome 617 Harden Street, 5 Points 779-6318 ETC. ON WEDNESDAY Reviews El 'Crucible' I nial times sndition of Miller's classic" :hery and persecution ind the story portrays the historic Salem witchcraft rials of 1692. Tlnrincr that, nprind. 19 nannlp warp killad hv t.hp established government of Salem after being accused >f practicing witchcraft. Every one of these "criminals" was convicted on the >asis of "spectral evidence." The charge of "spectral evidence" was created during he witch trials to accept the unprovable allegations of :itizens as evidence. It was one of the most notorious nstfln??s in American history of blatantly unsubstantial harge being accepted in court. These charges ultimately led to the conviction and leath of 19 innocent citizens of Salem. ? Written in response to a time of political insecurity rnd self-righteousness, the McCarthy anti-communist i 50s, this Tony a ward-winning play was a bold and 8 controversial move for Miller to take on as a playwright. I It was, however, not the first time he questioned the status quo. In his anti-heroic play Death of a Salesman, 1 Miller tackles the problem of societal expectations and ( standards of success in America. When The Crucible was first produced in 1953 in ( he midst of the political pro-democracy expectations, ' he play was seen as addressing the stance of the politically righteous. These people were being accosted on the ! aasis of not being normal. Although America has become more open-minded 1 in the last 40 years, this stoiy is still pertinent in today's society. 1 In an interview on his 80th birthday, Miller compared 1 the event of the play to the persecution workers at the McMartin Day Care Center in California. 1 In that case, people's lives were ruined by the testimony 1 Df 5 and 6- year-old children, who have since since recanted their testimony, proving the workers innocent after the damage had already been done. i "There is a climate in our culture of political correctness which I loathe," said Clarence Felder, the director of the play. "There's a great line in The Crucible where Proctor says, Ts the accuser always holy? Is the accuser lAfiu ^c&iciud^, iiiiiutcnt ao a iicwuui it uauc; Felder said such righteous thinking can lead to instability in sdciety. He said this is particularly true IICHAEL ERIC DYSON TTVace Navigating the Color Line Joules lies, Michael Eric Dyson lights a fire as he d probes even the worst sacred of our attitudes. Ultimately, that fire warms your les your faith, and offers a light of hope." - Iyana Vansant thor, Act 8 of Faith and Spirit of a Man writing possesses an enviable energy and >sh influences that include everything from . J- r?- LIJ. T7> ? ; iv ruvuc nruwiy. -U.S.A. Today ic Dyson is emerging as a young and k intellectual who is giving strong voice and ive to the african experience in America." -Rev. Jesse L. Jackson lliant book, Michael Eric Dyson offers a for a world in which race would no longer es us a blueprint for understand'isms' and phobias exist, and what we can te them-if not in the world, then in our own -E. Lynn Harris author, And this Too Shall Pass February 6, 1997 J sell House Ballroom 7:30 p.m. : -;> -y "*7 of Music and 'Star Wars' _ If tSSPw B 'c $ H 1 >?K **?m M ^K ' * ^ M |>- | " * %; ?. j&Sa I I -y ^mjUf * ' 1 * f le 20 aeabrr east of Workshop's ~TW CraribF fcatwrcs radio person eeks jastiee for his wife aad neighbors aeeased of wHehcrafl. Television Voetor, and Brooke Peterson has the role of Abigal Wiffluuns, the venge today, when truth is obscured and law comes from :onfusion and misperception about law. "They are incessant," Felder said. "It's coming out 3f the government, it's coming out of the pulpit, it's loming out of everywhere. "And it really is frightening to'me. Proctor has to stand up to it finally, and he does. It cost him his life." The South Carolina native is making his directorial debut for Workshop Theater with The Crucible. During his 30-year career in acting, working mostly in New York and Los Angeles, Felder has had the opportunity to work with Miller on two occasions. "I like Arthur a lot, and I enjoyed working with him on both occasions," Felder said. "Arthur himself said that he just got fascinated by the story of Salem, and I agree with him. "I defy anybody to read a book about it and not just get caught in the enigma of it," he said. "Because there are no real answers to what caused it. Everybody has different versions of it." The cast of 20 actors features radio personality Dave Reed as John Proctor, the young farmer who stubbornly seeks justice for his wife and neighbors accused of witchcraft. Television personality Jean Caughman portrays Proctor's wife., EiizaKoth, and Brook Peterson has the s A r ?< Come see ft < & IV I 1 student org K have to oj [in? I I 11 for informatm <%VBQL Sponsored by the Office of Student Organizations De A]IJ|II^2sU 44 There Is a climate in our culture of political correctness which I loathe. There's a great line in 'The Crucible' where Proctor says, 'Is the accuser always holy?' Clarence Felder Director of The Crucible VI % ' W* 11 m IH&^v it v.,, 1|1S >yM^m . ' '\ . v: 5..^ . . -'4 '4> ' * '; ' Special to Tke Gamecock aKty Dave Reed as Joha Proetor, the yoaag tkraer who stabborah pereoaafity Jeaa Caagkaua (right) portrays his wife, Elizabeth M servaat girl who sets off the witchcraft hysteria. role of Abigale Williams, the vengeful servant girl who sets off the witchcraft hysteria. Other cast members include Camden theater veteran, Larry Hembree as Reverend Hale, the one cleric who tries to stop the madness. Marc Harris Kandel plays Gov. Danforth, the self-righteous fanatic who presides over the trials. And USC professor Jerry Jewler plays Francis Nurse, a man whose wife is accused of witchcraft and is hanged when she refuses to confess to the charge. Set designer William O'Rourke used a raked stage to bring the feel of the colonial time period to life. The stage almost seems to pull itself inward, away from the audience and to thrust the actors out at the audience. This creates a very unsteady atmosphere, like the world is turning upside down, and it captures the climate of Salem during that period. Costume designer Arpina Markarian gathered a wardrobe of authentic Puritan clothing, but don't expect the stereotypical Puritan costumes because apparently it was much more diversified than people believe. The Crucible will run from Jan. 31 to Feb. 13. Ticket prices are $11 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and military and $8 for students. For reservations, contact the Workshop Theater box office at 799-6551, Monday through Friday, noon to 6 p.m. iat over 250 JL I anizations I [ call 777-5780 ^ I by the I uities Center. I partment of Student Life Division of Student Affairs