Just because Halloween has somehow already passed doesn’t mean that the fall season is over. The crunch of multicolored leaves on the ground, the smell of brewing cinnamon tea, and the bright orange pumpkins lining the doorsteps of Darien only support this claim. While I have nothing but respect for those who immediately turn on Mariah Carey radio and start baking Christmas cookies as soon as the clock strikes midnight on October 31st, there is nothing wrong with letting the fall season linger.
You might be wondering: how would you do such a thing? All the haunted houses are gone, and it’s too cold to go apple picking? To that question, I have the perfect answer. Go see Theatre 308’s fall play, The Crucible!
Besides holding on to the last moments of fall, you can support the DHS students and faculty who work so hard to put on a stellar performance and production every fall. Theatre 308’s The Crucible is directed by Nick Kuell, an English teacher here at DHS. The cast and crew are stacked with DHS students of all grades and positions.
For those unfamiliar with the classic Halloween tale, The Crucible takes place in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692, around the time of the real-life Salem Witch Trials. In the small town of Salem, accusations of witchcraft begin to spark, causing the town, as well as the married couple John and Elizabeth Proctor, to fall into shambles. The accusers are led by teen Abigail Williams, who had a secret affair with John. Abigail accuses Elizabeth of witchcraft, striving to replace her as John’s companion. Long story short, the witch trials cause betrayal, paranoia, and chaos in Salem, and John is forced to grapple with life-changing decisions. What happens next? You’ll have to watch the play to find out!
I was lucky enough to talk with one of the cast members of The Crucible, senior Lucy Best. Best has been involved in Theatre 308, through their fall plays and musicals, since her freshman year. In The Crucible, Best plays Elizabeth Proctor, John’s wife and one of the many women accused of witchcraft in the play. Alongside Best, junior Kellan Leonard plays Puritan farmer John Proctor, while junior Milana Melnick plays the meddling Abigail Williams.
From my conversation with Best, I learned that DHS students are not just performing on stage but working off stage as well. The Crucible has original music composed by junior David Lui, and the dance scenes in the play are choreographed by senior Anastassia Grystenko. Additionally, senior Marianne Tsocanos brings her experience and knowledge of theater to her vital role as stage manager.
At this point, I think we can all agree that seeing The Crucible is a great way to support DHS students and faculty in their passions. But why else should we see the production? When I asked Best this question, she was more than happy to provide a response. “People should go see The Crucible because it discusses a lot of themes like morality and what it means to be a good person. These are themes that correlate to our daily lives and interactions, not just the play.”
According to Best, the production will leave the audience with lots to wonder about the characters’ morals and their true motives. When asked about John Proctor’s arc throughout the play, Best said, “The whole show plays to John’s conscience and the audience has to question if he truly feels guilt for his actions. The final action of the play is ambiguous. Is it John clearing his consciousness or something deeper? Is he truly becoming a good person, or is he just being selfish?”
To find the answers to those questions and more, I fear the answer is self-explanatory. Go see The Crucible! The play runs from November 14th to November 16th, with all three shows starting at 7 pm in the DHS auditorium. Tickets are available now for purchase at the Theatre 308 website.
