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.