Witch Trials Come to Etown

Deceit, discomfort, and disorder were all brought upon a small town in the period of 1692-1693 when a group of young girls made one simple decision: accuse certain townsfolk of witchcraft. Deceit was present where lies covered a dark reality, discomfort was found as people could not trust one another, and disorder when religious extremism took place over rational thought. That decision gave way to a chain of events that would ultimately cause the executions of 20 people excluding those who died while incarcerated. This dark event in American history has become known as the Salem Witch Trials.

Through the widely known play “The Crucible”, Elizabethtown College’s Theater Department will be going back in time April 15-17, 22, 23, at 8 p.m. and 25 at 2 p.m. to recapture the intense and chaotic period that occurred in Salem, Mass.

Research

In order to get into some of the characters, the actors and actresses are taking the time to connect with their roles which includes a bit of research because unlike most plays, these characters are not fictional. Students receive guidance from director Terri Mastrobuono and the dramaturg Spencer O’Dowd who is an individual assigned to further lay out the details within all aspects the production.

"Spencer O'Dowd, who is from the area in Massachusetts in which the play is set, is our dramaturg. He is our consultant for historical accuracy and is also helping the cast to master a slight New England accent. " said Mastrobuno.

"Actors must also learn how to move like 16th - century people, rather than the casual, modern postures and movements we use now. A big adjustment is limiting hand gestures. We are considering giving those who gesture too much a red "G" to wear on their chests for a day!"

Becoming the Part

In comparison to previous plays done by the theater department, Mastrobuno reflected on what the cast must do in order to prepare for this play in particular: "The play is very intensely emotional and physical. Actors have been instructed in techniques of slapping, choking, pushing, falling, and physicalizing the "fits" that the girls who are supposedly under the spell of witchcraft fall into.

"The actors are being pushed to tap into some very deep and intense emotions and to portray them to the greatest degree possible. In that sense, even though the play is a modern drama, it is very much like playing Shakespeare. It must be larger than life. Or, as large as life can possibly get!"

Theater major Rachel Saul comments on the cast preparations: “During the early rehearsals, Terri gave the entire cast some worksheets with questions to help us become better acquainted with our characters. This worksheet helped me immensely because it forced me to think like Sarah, a character with no description in the script whatsoever.”

Saul related that there was a hint of a connection between her role as Sarah Bibber, one of the young girls who started the accusations that lead to the Salem Witch Trials, and herself: “In real life, Sarah Bibber was also a huge gossip who could make herself suddenly fall into fits to get her way. In that sense, I suppose you could say we both love to act, but for very different reasons.”

Saul’s fellow cast member Laura Robbins finds a deeper connection with her character Mercy Lewis: “In her society she is rather low in the hierarchy of importance and she, like many of the other girls, longs for some kind of power or control, and they find that through the trials.” said the sophomore, “I think anyone can identify with that desire to be more important and to be viewed with respect.”

The Past Influence on the Present

Each actress hopes to portray their roles in a way that influences the audience: “I'm really lucky to be involved in the courtroom scene because I think it's one of the most intense and entertaining. The whole scene just builds and builds until its final high point. I hope that my character adds to that intensity and overall momentum of the scene," commented senior Tammy Bateman who plays Ann Putnam Sr.

Freshman Chinwe Okorie who has only done one other production previously with Elizabethtown College wants the audience to really understand the underlying themes within the play through her character who was a slave brought into Salem: “I hope they see that in the beginning Tituba was just singled out for being different but towards the end she is a strong woman. She knows her true self so she doesn't need to defend herself anymore. From the production, I want the audience to get out that it takes one ludicrous ideology to stir things up…be careful what you say.”

Mixed anticipation comes from students planning on seeing the show: “All I can say is I hope the cast list proves me wrong. There’s some great talent in the cast but I don’t agree with all of the choices that were made,” said a student anonymously, “Some people on that list just might ruin the show…”

Junior Christina Smith is a bit more optimistic about the upcoming show: “I expect the play to be really interesting and well practiced. I’m excited to see it.”

With the controversy that was stirred up in this time period, will this play open new discussions on events in history that followed this trial? How will students on campus receive this play? Doubts as well as excitement are floating around campus, will the play follow through? It seems the cast is working hard to prove the critics wrong.

Mastrobuno addresses some of these questions: "The theme of the show is very relevant and an important one now, in light of how elements of our society are still using fear to scare us into responding to our country's problems. The parallels are strong and a bit scary. I hope the college community will come to see the show for the great story it tells, and leave thinking about how this aspect of our human behavior impacts peoples' lives. These issues are worth examining again and again to give us some sense of how not to repeat the disastrous consequences."