Costa’s production of “The Crucible” demonstrates cast’s talent

By Ian Rapoport
Executive Arts Editor

While the school year is young and the majority of Mira Costa’s student population is still attempting to find its footing, the Drama Department has more than reached its full potential with the fall production of Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible.”
Through the emotionally-charged performances of a truly skilled cast and distinctive effects, the Mira Costa Drama Department begins the year with Miller’s classic play, easily making up for the few struggles visible within the pacing and set design.
Inspired by the events of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, “The Crucible” is the account of a group of young Puritan girls in colonial Salem, Massachusetts. The girls begin making false accusations of witchcraft against their neighbors under the lead of Abigail Williams (junior Julia McDermott) to divert attention away from the original speculation of witchcraft on the young girls.
As the town descends into a downward spiral, farmer John Proctor (senior Matt Sena) bands together with some of his neighbors in attempt to prove the true intentions of the girls and save the falsly accused execution.

Even though the main purpose of Miller’s play was to criticize McCarthyism and the Red Scare of the 1950s when it was written, the themes of “The Crucible” prove timeless. Miller delves into topics ranging from the significance of religion in a community, the perversion of power and moral redemption, resulting in an overall narrative that is constantly thought provoking.
However, it is the talented Costa cast that really steals the show. As Abigail, McDermott’s personality varies from hostile to defensive, coupled with a few moments of unsettling cackling. Her performance sells the insane nature of Abigail in a solid antagonist.
Although her part is small compared to the rest of the cast, senior Emily Everhard deserves praise for her role as the self-conscious accuser Mary Warren. Everhard brings a sense of vulnerability to her character through her whimpering and injured emotional state, but more importantly adds a sense of variety to the generally aggressive acting of the cast.
Unsurprisingly, it is Sena’s lead role as John Proctor that proves the most notable. Initially, he brings a palpable sense of rage to the character. It is toward the end of the play when Sena goes full circle by swaying from furious to defeated without faltering in intensity, resulting in a heart-wrenching performance that stands out as the most outstanding aspect of the production.
The rest of the cast serves to maintain the conflicted atmosphere throughout “The Crucible.” The moments in which the stage becomes an uproar, as each actor shouts accusations at one another, are engaging and maintain a constant sense of action in the production, not through any special effects, but with the cast’s many performances.
Yet, it is this intense tone that serves to be the production’s most prominent flaw. The speed at which the actors go through the dialogue results in moments where the actors stutter, distracting from the narrative. By hardly ever taking the time to slow down and let the audience focus on the writing, the cast fails to convey the significance of Miller’s quality work.
The actual set design of “The Crucible” varies in quality. The few beams that are meant to make up the background as buildings are basic and simply forgettable, especially when compared to the impressive set resembling a cruise ship seen in last year’s production of “Anything Goes.”
However, the nuanced lighting effects prove impressive. The slowly changing lighting serves to create a constant sense of suspense in each scene. Most notably are the outdoor moments, where the thick lighting makes believable fog-like effects.
All in all, the Mira Costa Drama Department’s production of “The Crucible” is phenomenal. The few flaws are more than made up for by the skills of the cast, resulting in a brilliant adaptation of Miller’s age-old story.
The final performances of “The Crucible” are tonight at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in the Costa auditorium. Tickets are $12 for students and $15 for adults at the door.