I am dealing with Parris' line in Act I, Scene 1, "What are we, Quakers?" which comes after he has told Proctor that it is not up to Proctor to decide what is good for him to hear, and Proctor declares that he may speak his heart.
The short answer to the question of differences between Quakers and Puritans is that the Puritans were strict about religion and life styles, where the Quakers lived a little more freely. Here are some more specific bullet points:
QUAKERS
· No official creed
· Inner divinity
· Did not accept ministers
· Direct contact with God
· Salvation for all people
· Lived more freely
· Took in the beliefs of others
PURITANS
· Strict about religion and lifestyle
· Chosen by God
· Took instruction from the bible
· Society should be instructed by religious authority
· Wished to reform the church
· Predestination
· Family is ruled by the father
· Lived Godly lives to please God
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Isolation, threats, and the predestination of the universe
Of my various readings about the context of the witch trials, the following, from the introduction of a book I picked up in modern Salem in the 1990s, seems to bring it into focus most effectively:
"In 1692, the colony of Massachusetts Bay in New England was an isolated foothold in the wilderness of the North American continent, a small light of civilization clinging to the boundaries of the brooding gloom of the unknown western lands. The population was scattered over a vast countryside. Villages and farms were separated by great distances. Communication and travel were exceedingly slow, and the isolation of the people was exacerbated by the constant threat of Indian attacks and the whimsical but devastating forces of nature.
"Many of the colony's inhabitants counterbalanced their physical solitude in the New World with a spiritual foundation in the Calvinist doctrines of the Puritans of Mother England. But their spiritual hope proved nearly as bleak as their physical condition. The Puritans postulated an afterlife consisting of either everlasting bliss or eternal torment. The individual believer, however, was incapable of gaining his salvation by virtue of any act he might perform. God had instead predestined those to be consigned to the fires of perdition. The individual had no control over his own fate; it was left solely to the authority of an omnipotent God.
"This unquestioning obedience to God's mandates was the hallmark of Puritan society. Every occurrence in men's lives was part of God's overriding plan for the universe. Any good which came into people's lives was the direct result of God's mercy and beneficence; misfortunes, however, were attributed to an entirely different source. God occasionally permitted His fallen angel, Satan, to bring misery to the land as part of God's judgment on the people for deviating from His chosen path. The Puritan world was framed in this juxtaposition of good and evil, in an era before the Age of Reason, when men would begin seeking answers through secular means.
"The combined forces of Puritanism and isolation created an environment in which all actions were attributed to mystical powers which governed the world and were ever outside the control of men. The slightest mishap was attributed to some devil who had been unleashed by God to punish the person concerned. The surrounding countryside, it was supposed, abounded with demons poised to snatch the righteous person from the fold of God. Strange diseases, coincidental occurrences, and other miseries were all caused by Satan's servants. With their neighbors far away and unable to give support, people turned to their inner fears when they heard strange noises or imagined strange happenings. To these New England Puritans, the devil's legions roamed almost at will over the land, and the object was to subvert the kingdom of God on earth. Their greatest chance came in 1692 in a wayside community known as Salem Village (now Danvers, Massachusetts)." *
* Brown, David C. A Guide to the Salem Witchcraft Hysteria of 1692. David C. Brown, 1984.
"In 1692, the colony of Massachusetts Bay in New England was an isolated foothold in the wilderness of the North American continent, a small light of civilization clinging to the boundaries of the brooding gloom of the unknown western lands. The population was scattered over a vast countryside. Villages and farms were separated by great distances. Communication and travel were exceedingly slow, and the isolation of the people was exacerbated by the constant threat of Indian attacks and the whimsical but devastating forces of nature.
"Many of the colony's inhabitants counterbalanced their physical solitude in the New World with a spiritual foundation in the Calvinist doctrines of the Puritans of Mother England. But their spiritual hope proved nearly as bleak as their physical condition. The Puritans postulated an afterlife consisting of either everlasting bliss or eternal torment. The individual believer, however, was incapable of gaining his salvation by virtue of any act he might perform. God had instead predestined those to be consigned to the fires of perdition. The individual had no control over his own fate; it was left solely to the authority of an omnipotent God.
"This unquestioning obedience to God's mandates was the hallmark of Puritan society. Every occurrence in men's lives was part of God's overriding plan for the universe. Any good which came into people's lives was the direct result of God's mercy and beneficence; misfortunes, however, were attributed to an entirely different source. God occasionally permitted His fallen angel, Satan, to bring misery to the land as part of God's judgment on the people for deviating from His chosen path. The Puritan world was framed in this juxtaposition of good and evil, in an era before the Age of Reason, when men would begin seeking answers through secular means.
"The combined forces of Puritanism and isolation created an environment in which all actions were attributed to mystical powers which governed the world and were ever outside the control of men. The slightest mishap was attributed to some devil who had been unleashed by God to punish the person concerned. The surrounding countryside, it was supposed, abounded with demons poised to snatch the righteous person from the fold of God. Strange diseases, coincidental occurrences, and other miseries were all caused by Satan's servants. With their neighbors far away and unable to give support, people turned to their inner fears when they heard strange noises or imagined strange happenings. To these New England Puritans, the devil's legions roamed almost at will over the land, and the object was to subvert the kingdom of God on earth. Their greatest chance came in 1692 in a wayside community known as Salem Village (now Danvers, Massachusetts)." *
* Brown, David C. A Guide to the Salem Witchcraft Hysteria of 1692. David C. Brown, 1984.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Cast for The Crucible
I'm pleased to reveal the cast list for Theatre in the Park's The Crucible. I am humbled by the great turnout we had for auditions. Many thanks to all who made it out and considered participation in The Crucible.
Tituba - Tosh Gorens
Reverend Samuel Parris - Roger Finnell
Abigail Williams - Kara DeWall
Susanna Walcott - Lindsay Finnell
Betty Parris - Breckyn Lyons
Ann Putnam - Tara McAndrew
Thomas Putnam - Patrick O'Brien
Mercy Lewis - Kate Moranski
Mary Warren - Hailey McNamara
John Proctor - John O'Connor
Rebecca Nurse - Susan Jeffers
Giles Corey - George Heroux
Reverend John Hale - Jesse Trieger
Elizabeth Proctor - Missy Thibodeaux-Thompson
Francis Nurse - Ted Mahler
John Willard - Chuk Robertson
Ezekiel Cheever - Eric Woods
Deputy Governor Danforth - Harvey Mack
Judge Hathorne - John Moranski
Tituba - Tosh Gorens
Reverend Samuel Parris - Roger Finnell
Abigail Williams - Kara DeWall
Susanna Walcott - Lindsay Finnell
Betty Parris - Breckyn Lyons
Ann Putnam - Tara McAndrew
Thomas Putnam - Patrick O'Brien
Mercy Lewis - Kate Moranski
Mary Warren - Hailey McNamara
John Proctor - John O'Connor
Rebecca Nurse - Susan Jeffers
Giles Corey - George Heroux
Reverend John Hale - Jesse Trieger
Elizabeth Proctor - Missy Thibodeaux-Thompson
Francis Nurse - Ted Mahler
John Willard - Chuk Robertson
Ezekiel Cheever - Eric Woods
Deputy Governor Danforth - Harvey Mack
Judge Hathorne - John Moranski
I will be looking for a few additional people to serve in creative staff and crew roles. More information will be posted here about that soon. Thanks.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Auditions coming soon...and a few thoughts...
Auditions are coming soon. Check for audition information here.
Though I did a lot of the historical research on a production of The Crucible while I was in college (yes, that
meant pre-internet - remember the library?), the amount of historical
information is vast and I am always coming across new gems. This week, I
ran across this interesting tidbit:
I had known previously that Nathaniel Hawthorne, best known as
author of The Scarlet Letter,
was descended from a Salem witch trials judge who is personified in The Crucible. I never
made the connection until this week that the well-known author had added the
"w" to his given name, Hathorne, in order to hid his relation to the
only witch trials judge who never repented of his actions. Of course, I
have repeatedly spelled the name of the judge incorrectly in documents,
assuming it to be the same surname as The
Scarlet Letter author.
Also, isn't it interesting the consider the importance of
alphabetic characters to Nathaniel Hawthorne's legacy?
"A"..."W"...both important!
New Salem State Historic Site has distinct requirements as to when
on-site plays should end at Theatre in the Park. Even if no such
requirements were in place, it would be my inclination to make cuts to Miller's
text because modern audiences are generally not accustomed to such lengthy
non-musical drama. At the same time, though, as a longtime fan of this
text, it pains me to make the cuts! I am going page by page, employing
all kinds of strategies to give the audience and the characters as much of
their fair due as I possibly can.
One thing I am not inclined to cut is humor. Humor in The Crucible?, you might ask. Oh yes, there
is plenty of humor, though it is not necessarily an aspect that stands up as an
appropriate description of the play. The humor is drawn primarily from
the nature of some of the characters and their relationships with each other.
If you haven't experienced some of that humor lately, you might want to
give the script a re-read. In the meantime, enjoy the humor of these
Puritan valentines.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Rehearsal process for The Crucible
What can a person expect from the rehearsal process for The Crucible?
The short answer is that you can expect a thorough, concisely-scheduled process that is actor-focused.
Here's the longer answer:
The Crucible is divided into four acts, with each act comprising only one scene. For the purposes of rehearsals, it is possible to logically divide each act into smaller scenes based on shifts in the drama and entrances and exits of characters. A very concise rehearsal schedule will be developed based on actor availability and the logical division of the smaller scenes that I describe above. This will enable us to more effectively utilize our rehearsal time. Only John Proctor and Reverend Hale appear in all four acts.
Every theater project is different. For me, The Crucible is distinctive for being such an emotionally-charged drama, for both the actors and the audience. As I've continued the process of exploring the script, I've been thinking a lot about making sure the rehearsals will be framed to include both a gathering/coming-together at the beginning of each evening and a brief time of productive reflection at the end.
I believe the play will be best served by utilizing the full talents...body and mind...of all the actors involved, and I intend to craft rehearsals with this in mind. This does not mean that you should expect a hands-off director who is unprepared; quite the contrary. The Crucible has been a favorite of mine for a long time now, having served as dramaturg for a production in college and having visited Salem, Massachusetts in the late-90s with the express purpose of visiting the sites related to the witch trials. For the past five months, I've tried to read an act of the play every day (admittedly, it doesn't happen every day...), taking notes and preparing for the process of auditions and rehearsals, and noting details about production. But my advance planning, as director, will only be a part of the final product of this classic drama; what each actor breathes into their character will be significant to the process.
The Crucible is based on the Salem witch trials of 1692, when a mass hysteria swept a Puritanical parish and the accusations of young girls, with no hard proof, condemned and ultimately hung 19 members of the community. The characters in The Crucible are all based on the real people involved in the witch trials, though as is the case with most historical drama (hmmm...like maybe a little recent film named Argo), embellishments add to the drama and the audience investment in the story.
Rehearsals will begin the week of May 13. The play opens June 28. We will rehearse both inside and outside at New Salem and at a to-be-named location in Springfield. Auditions will be held April 6 at Western Oaks Baptist Church, 5345 Old Jacksonville Road in Springfield. Email or Facebook me to schedule a one-hour audition slot when you can read with other actors. No advance preparation is required, but familiarity with the play would be helpful. Walk-ins will also be accepted between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on April 6.
Carly Shank, Director
carlyshank@yahoo.com
http://www.facebook.com/carlyn.shank
The short answer is that you can expect a thorough, concisely-scheduled process that is actor-focused.
Here's the longer answer:
The Crucible is divided into four acts, with each act comprising only one scene. For the purposes of rehearsals, it is possible to logically divide each act into smaller scenes based on shifts in the drama and entrances and exits of characters. A very concise rehearsal schedule will be developed based on actor availability and the logical division of the smaller scenes that I describe above. This will enable us to more effectively utilize our rehearsal time. Only John Proctor and Reverend Hale appear in all four acts.
Every theater project is different. For me, The Crucible is distinctive for being such an emotionally-charged drama, for both the actors and the audience. As I've continued the process of exploring the script, I've been thinking a lot about making sure the rehearsals will be framed to include both a gathering/coming-together at the beginning of each evening and a brief time of productive reflection at the end.
I believe the play will be best served by utilizing the full talents...body and mind...of all the actors involved, and I intend to craft rehearsals with this in mind. This does not mean that you should expect a hands-off director who is unprepared; quite the contrary. The Crucible has been a favorite of mine for a long time now, having served as dramaturg for a production in college and having visited Salem, Massachusetts in the late-90s with the express purpose of visiting the sites related to the witch trials. For the past five months, I've tried to read an act of the play every day (admittedly, it doesn't happen every day...), taking notes and preparing for the process of auditions and rehearsals, and noting details about production. But my advance planning, as director, will only be a part of the final product of this classic drama; what each actor breathes into their character will be significant to the process.
The Crucible is based on the Salem witch trials of 1692, when a mass hysteria swept a Puritanical parish and the accusations of young girls, with no hard proof, condemned and ultimately hung 19 members of the community. The characters in The Crucible are all based on the real people involved in the witch trials, though as is the case with most historical drama (hmmm...like maybe a little recent film named Argo), embellishments add to the drama and the audience investment in the story.
Rehearsals will begin the week of May 13. The play opens June 28. We will rehearse both inside and outside at New Salem and at a to-be-named location in Springfield. Auditions will be held April 6 at Western Oaks Baptist Church, 5345 Old Jacksonville Road in Springfield. Email or Facebook me to schedule a one-hour audition slot when you can read with other actors. No advance preparation is required, but familiarity with the play would be helpful. Walk-ins will also be accepted between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on April 6.
Carly Shank, Director
carlyshank@yahoo.com
http://www.facebook.com/carlyn.shank
Friday, February 15, 2013
Audition Information
Auditions for The Crucible will be held on April 6 at Western Oaks Baptist Church at 5345 Old Jacksonville Road in Springfield. To schedule an audition time, please email the director at carlyshank@yahoo.com. Walk-in auditionees will also be welcome on that date. Those auditioning do not need to prepare anything in advance, but some familiarity with the play is recommended.
Rehearsals for The Crucible will begin May 13. Rehearsals will be held in Springfield and at New Salem.
Roles:
Tituba - Reverend Parris' slave, brought to Massachussettes from Barbados
Reverend Samuel Parris - Pastor to the Puritanical community of Salem; a weak, paranoid, and suspicious demagogue
Abigail Williams - 17-year-old niece of Reverend Parris; malicious, vengeful
Susanna Walcott - A confidant of Abigail, somewhat younger than her; nervous, hurried
Betty Parris - Daughter of Reverend Parris, younger than Abigail; more childlike than the other girls
Ann Putnam - Parishoner of Reverend Parris, mother to one of the ailing teenage girls; suspicious and paranoid
Thomas Putnam - Parishoner of Reverend Parris, father to one of the ailing teenage girls; longtime resident of Salem whose actions are driven by greed and fear
Mercy Lewis - 18 years old; slovenly, merciless
Mary Warren - 17-year-old servant of Proctor; subserviant, naïve, lonely, and pliable
John Proctor - A hard-working Salem farmer; the voice of reason and justice in Salem, sharply intelligent and witty at times, questions whether he is a moral man
Rebecca Nurse - 72 years old with white hair and a walking stick; one of the most noble and well-respected citizens of Salem, kindly and sane, the martyr of the play
Giles Corey - 83 years old, knotted with muscle; canny, inquisitive, still powerful, a comic figure whose fate turns tragic
Reverend John Hale - A religious scholar from Beverly; his approach to the accusations of witchcraft shifts from precise intellectuality to disillusionment through the course of the play
Elizabeth Proctor - Wife of John Proctor; shares her husband's strict adherence to justice and moral principles, has great confidence in her own morality, can be a cold and demanding woman
Francis Nurse - Husband of Rebecca Nurse, a well-respected wealthy landowner
John Willard - Guard at the jail cell
Ezekiel Cheever - Clerk of the court who serves warrants
Deputy Governor Danforth - A grave man in his 60s who presides over the Salem witch trials; stern yet practical, interested in preserving the dignity and stature of the court
Judge Hathorne - Largely subservient to Deputy Governor Danforth, applying the same tortured reasoning to the charges of witchcraft
Rehearsals for The Crucible will begin May 13. Rehearsals will be held in Springfield and at New Salem.
Roles:
Tituba - Reverend Parris' slave, brought to Massachussettes from Barbados
Reverend Samuel Parris - Pastor to the Puritanical community of Salem; a weak, paranoid, and suspicious demagogue
Abigail Williams - 17-year-old niece of Reverend Parris; malicious, vengeful
Susanna Walcott - A confidant of Abigail, somewhat younger than her; nervous, hurried
Betty Parris - Daughter of Reverend Parris, younger than Abigail; more childlike than the other girls
Ann Putnam - Parishoner of Reverend Parris, mother to one of the ailing teenage girls; suspicious and paranoid
Thomas Putnam - Parishoner of Reverend Parris, father to one of the ailing teenage girls; longtime resident of Salem whose actions are driven by greed and fear
Mercy Lewis - 18 years old; slovenly, merciless
Mary Warren - 17-year-old servant of Proctor; subserviant, naïve, lonely, and pliable
John Proctor - A hard-working Salem farmer; the voice of reason and justice in Salem, sharply intelligent and witty at times, questions whether he is a moral man
Rebecca Nurse - 72 years old with white hair and a walking stick; one of the most noble and well-respected citizens of Salem, kindly and sane, the martyr of the play
Giles Corey - 83 years old, knotted with muscle; canny, inquisitive, still powerful, a comic figure whose fate turns tragic
Reverend John Hale - A religious scholar from Beverly; his approach to the accusations of witchcraft shifts from precise intellectuality to disillusionment through the course of the play
Elizabeth Proctor - Wife of John Proctor; shares her husband's strict adherence to justice and moral principles, has great confidence in her own morality, can be a cold and demanding woman
Francis Nurse - Husband of Rebecca Nurse, a well-respected wealthy landowner
John Willard - Guard at the jail cell
Ezekiel Cheever - Clerk of the court who serves warrants
Deputy Governor Danforth - A grave man in his 60s who presides over the Salem witch trials; stern yet practical, interested in preserving the dignity and stature of the court
Judge Hathorne - Largely subservient to Deputy Governor Danforth, applying the same tortured reasoning to the charges of witchcraft
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Welcome to all things The Crucible
This summer, New Salem's Theatre in the Park will produce The Crucible. This classic American drama by Arthur Miller is a fictional retelling of the events surrounding the Salem, Massachusetts witch trials of 1692. Written during the Joseph McCarthy communist trials of the 1950s, the play serves as an allegory for those events and for other "witch hunts" of our past and present America.
The Crucible has long been on a short list of directing "dream projects" for me. I look forward to a shared theatrical experience with actors, designers, and audience. Stay tuned here for more information as it becomes available, providing context for the play and for our local production.
The Crucible will run June 28-30 and July 4-6, 2013 at 8 p.m. at Theatre in the Park. Auditions will be held Saturday, April 6. More information will be posted here soon.
The Crucible has long been on a short list of directing "dream projects" for me. I look forward to a shared theatrical experience with actors, designers, and audience. Stay tuned here for more information as it becomes available, providing context for the play and for our local production.
The Crucible will run June 28-30 and July 4-6, 2013 at 8 p.m. at Theatre in the Park. Auditions will be held Saturday, April 6. More information will be posted here soon.
Carly Shank
Director
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