Screams and accusations of witchcraft flew across the Meyer Theatre during the Monroe Community Players’ performance.
The Players took on “The Crucible,” a dramatization of the Salem witch trials, an event riddled with betrayal and hypocrisy. The performances took place on Oct. 1, 2, and 3.
The play stars a gang of girls who have obtained the power of the town, and a small group trying to put an end to the insanity.
As wives and mothers are arrested one by one, the court’s and the church’s involvement merely makes the situation worse, and soon all voice of reason has been sent to jail or hanged.
MCCC students Alex Carone and Ashley Powers portrayed two of the teenage tyrants.
Carone played one of the lead roles of Abigail Williams, the leader of the pack and the lynchpin of the girls’ power.
Carone described her character as conniving, smart and good at lying.
“This was a fun character to play because she’s a villain and I’ve never really gotten a chance to play a part like that before,” she said.
Powers has a similarly evil character, Mercy Lewis, who is described in the script as a sly, wicked girl.
“She is really aggressive, a very mean sort of person,” Powers said. “I don’t think I’m that mean in real life so it was really fun to be someone that was.”
The two laughed.
“I guess we’re probably supposed to say something like, ‘it was a crisis of conscience,’ but no, they were fun [to portray],” Carone said. “Then we’re offstage and we’re us again.”
The character of John Proctor stands in opposition to the town’s corruption. Throughout all four of the play’s acts, he fights to talk sense into the leaders of Salem and reveal the girls as liars.
Powers said she likes the character of John Proctor because despite some problems, he’s still a good person.
“One of the main things about the show is that even though you make mistakes, hopefully, eventually you’ll make the right decision in something that’s difficult,” she said. “That’s what I really like about it.”
Powers said she has been a fan of “The Crucible” since she saw it performed live in Toledo several years ago.
“When you read it it’s one thing, but when you see it live it just brings it to you really well, and that’s when I fell in love with it,” she said.
As for Carone, she not only knew of the play but said she had imagined herself portraying Abigail.
Carone said the performance really came together, even after some line issues at dress rehearsal.
“The audience is really a part of the show,” she said. “They’re almost another character that you have to have the feel of, and you can’t have that until the show.”
The Monroe Community Players have two more shows for the 2010 year; Ruby’s Redneck Wedding to be performed at LaRoy’s Hall on Nov. 13, and A Christmas Story on Dec. 3, 4 and 5 at the Players Place.
In 2011 they will be performing The Lion in Winter and The Wizard of Oz.
