Site Specific (6) - Act One of Old Vic Production

In today's lesson we watched Act One of the Old Vic's production of "The Crucible". To begin this act they did their own physical theatre section which was very slow and had no dialogue at all. The lighting was very low and it was difficult to make out people's faces, so we were focusing on silhouettes. Their introduction gave the audience a sense of setting by their clothing, and formed the unsettling atmosphere.

The actual script work itself was quite contrasting to their opening - the setting was the same, but the pace of the script was quite fast. This company chose to get their actors to have Northern accents, perhaps to make it more accessible and the language seem more normal. I particularly liked the girl who played Betty because her movement was amazing, but I felt the rest of this version was a little bit melodramatic at times.

Act One Synopsis:  Betty, Reverend Parris' daughter is sick in bed. His niece, Abigail, announces the arrival of Susanna - who tells Parris that Dr Griggs can't find a cure and thinks its supernatural but Parris says this can't be true. Abigail and Parris dismiss Susanna and discuss witchcraft - Parris confronts Abigail about what she did in the forest but she denies it. Mr and Mrs Putnam had heard the rumours and tells Parris that their daughter, Ruth, is also sick. Parris has called Rev Hale (a witch-hunter) as a precaution. Mrs Putnam tells Hale that she has had seven stillborns, but admits she sent Ruth to Tituba (Parris' slave who can speak to the dead) to find out why. Abigail says they were conjuring but she wasn't. Abigail, Mercy (Putnam's servant) and Mary talk about that night with Betty (as everyone has left the room for now). They get their stories straight. Proctor arrives and Mary and Mercy leave. After discussing witchery, Proctor tells Abigail their affair is over. Betty wakes up and the Putnums, Mercy, Parris, Giles (an old man) and Nurse Rebecca enter. Rebecca says it's childish pranks but can't explain Putnam's stillborns. Everyone argues. Hale enters and everyone explains the situation to him. Rebecca leaves. The kettle at the dance is discussed. Tituba is blamed. Abigail lists people she saw with the devil - Betty wakes and joins in.