The power of panic: Maryville College brings The Crucible to life

Nov. 6-9, the Maryville College Theatre program presented a production of The Crucible by Arther Miller. Directed by Fine Arts Professor Andy Vaught, the play explored what truth really means, and how the corruption of panic and influence can lead to the downfall of a society. 

The Crucible is a fictionalized account of the Salem witch trials of 1692. In the story, a group of young girls in Salem are caught dancing in the woods, a scandalous act at the time, and accuse several townspeople of witchcraft to conceal their own heinous actions. This triggers a chain of accusations, false confessions, and hysteria, leaving no one truly safe from Salem’s unjust laws. 

Miller wrote The Crucible in the 1950s as an allegory for McCarthyism, when the United States government unjustly prosecuted citizens as communist. His play demonstrated how fear and panic can quickly lead to injustice, showing the destructive effects of false accusations through his story of Salem. 

The Maryville College production did the story justice through its powerful use of story telling and performance. The actors relied on minimal props and sets to convey the conflict between truth and corruption. The stage was designed in a layered, vortex-like style – its lowest point was set at center stage. This allowed the actors to deliver intense monologues in the center while enacting dramatic and nearly tyrannical speeches along the edge. 

The production took place in the Haslam Flex Theatre, which was transformed into the round to create an immersive experience for the audience. Sitting around the stage, audience members were able to feel as if they were a part of the action, heightening the impact of the story. 

Vaught also chose to keep a scene that is often omitted in other productions, in which Sarah Good and Tituba, two women accused of witchcraft, are released from jail to make room for new prisoners. This choice highlighted the women reclaiming their power and emphasized the mental strain and injustice suffered by those accused during the trials. The production received strong praise from audiences. 

Mya Winklesky (‘29) said, “The cast did a great job making such complex language clear. I loved these characters and how they brought them to life.” 

The cast and crew also expressed how rewarding the production process was. 

Alden Sundstrom (‘27), costume crew member, worked backstage to ensure costumes were stage-ready. She said: “everyone was super friendly and awesome, and it was cool to see it all come together.”

A big challenge of performing The Crucible is the complex language, but MC actors took on the challenge head first. 

Julius Hobbs (‘29), who played the part of Reverend Parris, said, “I do not think I could have asked for a more engaging and challenging role. I would not want the experience to have ended any differently.” MC’s production of The Crucible left a strong impression on audiences, cast, and crew, blending complex storytelling with memorable performance. The show highlighted the talent and dedication of Maryville College theater students, and set the stage for even more exciting productions to come.

Scene one of The Crucible, when fear of witchcraft begins to spread throughout Salem. Left to right: Leilani Carden (‘26), Sasha Hoenie (‘26), Sarah Christy (‘28), Jada Greenlee (‘28), Soda Cline (‘29) (Photo courtesy of Wes Hope)