The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, February 03, 1997, Page 5, Image 5
SITE OF THE PAY
I Pain and Suffering!
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Workshop's
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Director Clarence Felder's re
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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
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Based on the Salem witchcraft trials, The Crucible'1
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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'
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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
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Sponsored by the Office of Student Organizations De
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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
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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