Withstanding Test of Time

Arthur Miller wrote “The Crucible” as a denunciation of the early ‘50s Washington hunt, headed by Sen. Joe McCarthy, for Communists in the U.S. government. Miller found similarities between that period and the witch hunts in Salem, Mass., centuries earlier.

Although the play itself is too long, it’s a moving testament against unreasoned destruction of the human spirit.

A powerful production of the play at Cal State Fullerton couldn’t have been timed better, for history has a way of repeating itself pretty often.

John Proctor is a farmer--an honest man who loves his wife but errs with the young woman who works for them, Abigail Williams. It is Abigail who gathers other unwitting young women into a plan to accuse Proctor’s wife of witchcraft, thereby leaving the field open for Abigail.

Enter the self-righteous small-minded clergy and government officials who believe they are right in exorcising the devil in Abigail’s innocent victims. Abigail achieves only the destruction of the man she lusts after, and she leaves on a boat for Europe.

The parallels in today’s headlines are not coincidental. A witch hunt is a witch hunt, and director Dan Kern makes the point forcefully and with great theatricality. Todd Canedy’s imaginative scenic design and Tom Durante’s moody lighting beautifully frame Miller’s lesson about misguided vigilantism.

Kern balances the rich rhythmic patterns of each scene unerringly and gets towering performances out of a young cast that rises to his concept with energy, insight and rewarding restraint. Between them they make the play feel shorter than it usually does.

Christopher Younggren is a forceful presence as Proctor, honest to Proctor’s integrity and exhibiting marvelous restraint in his moving final scene when he is unable to trade his principles for his life.

Keri Hostetler is as solid playing his wife, vividly showing the strength of a woman unable to bend to the evil of the do-gooders who are devouring her and compelling in her devotion to truth and to her husband.

*

Vanessa Villalovos, as Abigail, gives a forthright image of the girl’s passionate lust for Proctor yet is able to indicate the girl’s evil undercurrent with deft honesty and realism. Kevin Beaty is also excellent as her smug uncle, the Rev. Samuel Parris, who is just as adept at controlling people as Abigail is. So is Aimee Guichard as Mary Warren, Abigail’s friend who tries to tell the truth but is sucked into Abigail’s plan.

The evening is almost stolen by the performances of Alessandro Trinca as the Rev. John Hale, who comes to Salem to exorcise the girls and finally realizes the falseness of the situation, and Chet Cole as Deputy Gov. Danforth, a sort of independent counsel who is dedicated to hanging all those who won’t confess their witchcraft.

Both give electric portraits of men who can’t believe their actions are less godly than those they accuse.

* “The Crucible,” Little Theatre, Cal State Fullerton Performing Arts Center. 8 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 2:30 & 8 p.m. Saturday, 5 p.m. Sunday. $8. Ends Sunday. (714) 278-3371. Running time: 2 hours, 45 minutes.

Christopher Younggren: John Proctor

Vanessa Villalovos: Abigail Williams

Keri Hostetler: Elizabeth Proctor

Alessandro Trinca: Rev. John Hale

Kevin Beaty: Rev. Samuel Parris

Chet Cole: Deputy Gov. Danforth

Aimee Guichard: Mary Warren

A Cal State Fullerton Department of Theatre & Dance production of Arthur Miller’s drama. Directed by Dan Kern. Scenic design: Todd Canedy. Lighting design: Tom Durante. Costume design: Caleb Cleveland. Sound design: John Fisher. Makeup/hair design: Tricia Aldas. Stage manager: Terry Walcutt.