Tamaqua Area High School to present 'The Crucible'
KATHY KUNKEL/TIMES NEWS Daniel Lee as John Proctor argues with his former mistress, Zoe Snyder as Abigail Williams, as the town of Salem brews hysteria over thoughts of witchcraft. The scene is from the Tamaqua High School Drama Club's presentation of Arthur Miller's "The Crucible," which will be presented this weekend.
This weekend, the Salem witch trials come to Tamaqua as the Tamaqua Area High School Drama Club presents Arthur Miller's "The Crucible."
The drama mixes jealousy, deceit, infidelity, old grudges and puritanical values with the ease of causing mass hysteria.
While set in 1642, it was written by Miller during the height of the political hysteria caused by Sen. Joseph McCarthy's hunt for communists in the 1950s.
The story starts with a group of young girls, dancing in the woods with the black slave Tituba (Sophia Gursky).
Their merriment is witnessed by Rev. Samuel Parris (Andrew Delpais), whose daughter Betty (Jocelyn Rega) later succumbs to a comalike state. She is not the only person in town who suffers from an unexplained illness, causing rumors of witchcraft to float through the town.
The uncertainty and rumors lead the Rev. Parris to send for the Rev. John Hale (Spencer DePue), an expert on witchcraft.
In the meantime, the girls' ringleader, Abigail Williams (Zoe Snyder), has more to worry about than dancing in the woods. Her affair with local farmer John Proctor (Daniel Lee) has come to an end, an end she can't and won't accept.
Bubbling under the surface are disputes among the townspeople over money and land.
Once a lie is told, the effects grow and grow, until the truth is no longer recognizable. Everyone gets caught up in the hysteria, suspecting each other of being witches.
Rounding out the cast are: Sarah Martinez as Susanna Wolcott; Kennedy Ritchie as Mrs. Ann Putnam; Alec Roseland as Thomas Putnam; Beth Kistler as Elizabeth Proctor; Alysa Schapell as Mercy Lewis; Hannah Betz as Mary Warren; Matthew Stahler as Giles Corey; and Amelia Cassell, Sarah Jones and Olivia Stettler as the Accusers; Aimee Hull as Rebecca Nurse; Micaiah Shupp as Francis Nurse; and Jacob Weiksner as Ezekiel Cheever.
Also, Blake Tate as John Willard; Jeffrey Stahler as Judge Hawthorne; Jacob Gursky as Deputy-Governor Danforth; Alicen Hull as Sarah Good; Zachary Deem as Hopkins; McKayla Wall as Martha Corey; Ethan Walker as the Guard; Jessica Brobst, Hannah Engleman and Avionna Hersey as Salem citizens.
The club is under the direction of Adriane Drum.
Performances will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday in the school district auditorium. Doors will open at 6 p.m.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students.
Due to the adult content, the show may not be appropriate for children under the age of 12.
