THE CRUCIBLE

BY STAGECRAFT GROUP 4:

ANDREA COLUMBO, TAZME PILLAY, TAILYN RAMSAMY,

NELSON MENELL, NICOLA MOERMAN, NOXOLO BLANDILE

AND MAHLUBANDILE

THE WRITER

The Crucible is written by the American playwright Arthur Asher Miller in 1953. He was born on October 17, 1915, in Harlem, New York City. The Crucible was based on a series of infamous witch trials which took place in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. Arthur Miller studied witch trials in his collage history course. Arthur Miller lived through a witch-hunt in the United States in the 50’s with the hunt for communists, a movement known as

McCarthyism

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

In The Crucible, as in England at the time, religion and politics were inextricably intertwined. In fact, it is due to the religious rivalry and persecution in Europe that the group of Puritan settlers that we become familiar with in the Crucible leave Europe to settle in Massachusetts.

The Puritans were extremely zealous and anti-catholic, and sought to reform England. However, they were a minority, and so when they had exhausted their attempts to save England, they set their sights on the New World, namely North America. The settlement of Salem in Massachusetts was as a result of this move.

In the village of Salem, the political and religious spheres were very nearly one and the same. It is generally accepted that Salem was a theocracy, as Miller explains in the overture to the play. A theocracy is a system in which a society is governed by religious rulers.

THE PERIOD

In 1692, the United States of America was still a colony under the British Empire. In Salem Massachusetts, most of the people that made up the small town were known as Puritans – a collection of English Protestants in the 16^th and 17^th century.

Puritanism was a way of life governed by religious laws forbidding ‘vain enjoyment’ like dancing and music. Life was centred on the church. Education was based on the Bible and religious doctrine, whilst toys and dolls were banned. The Puritans placed focus on being ‘visibly godly’, and activities like witchcraft were expressly forbidden.

During this time the Salem witch trials occurred. The witch trials were a result of a few young girls falling ill, and then claiming to be possessed by the devil and accusing local people of practicing witchcraft. This caused mass hysteria and the commencement of the witch trials. The trials led to the hanging and imprisonment of many people.

Source: http://www.historyorb.com/events/date/1692

PLOT

SET IN 17TH CENTUARY SALEM, THE CRUCIBLE IS THE FICTIONALIZED DRAMATIZTION

OF THE EVENTS THAT LED TO AMERICA'S GREATEST WITCH HUNT, THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS. ABIGAIL WILLIAMS, A YOUNG VINDICTIVE WOMAN ENGAGED IN AN AFFAIR WITH THE MARRIED JOHN PROCTOR, HATCHES A PLAN TO BLAME JHON'S WIFE ELIZABETH FOR WITCHCRAFT AFTER SHE AND HER FRIENDS ARE CAUGHT PERFORMING INNOCENT RITUALS IN THE FORSET WHICH HAS PRESUMABLY LEFT ONE OF THE GIRLS PARALYZED.

A HUNT OF EPIC PROPORTIONS ENSES, HEADED BY THE REVEREND PARRIS AND THE YOUNG REVEREND HALE WHICH SEEMS ALMOST ALL OF SALEM CONVICTED FOR A CRIME THEY DID NOT COMMIT, ALL BECAUSE OF ABIGAIL'S LIES AND INSISTENCE

ON THAT WHICH SHE DESIRES MOST.

ALLEGORY FOR MCCARTHYISM.

THE SCENE

WE HAVE DECIDED TO FOCUS ON THE SCENE IN

WHICH GILES CORREY IS CONVICTED. THIS IS SET IN A COURT ROOM AND INVOLVES MOST OF THE MAJOR CHARACTERS.

IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE COSTUME AS IT

REQUIRES FORMAL WEAR APPROPRIATE FOR THE PERIOD

FOR A WIDE RANGE OF CHARACTERS AND DEMOGRAPHICS IN THE PLAY.

IN THE COURTROOM

THE COSTUME

COSTUME AND DRESS IN THE 1600S

The Puritan people dressed extremely conservatively, in order to abide by the strict religious practices of their society. Women were expected to cover their bodies from their necks to their wrists and ankles. The colour schemes acceptable within the community were black, grey, brown and white.

The Puritans originated in England, where 17^th Century styles were lavish and extravagant. While the Puritans did not entirely ignore the fashion of the day, their religious views meant that their dress
was often more practical than fashionable.

For our costumes, we have decided to go with the traditional

silhouettes and style of the Puritan dress. Also, having worked from a film script, it is necessary to make sure that the costume is appropriate and accurate to the period being portrayed.

We studied examples of 17th century Puritan dress and applied what was relevant to us in our designs for costume.

Each group member has designed a costume for a character in the play.