What? Classic Arthur Miller revival
Where? The National Theatre
It doesn’t get much more spectacular than the crashing wall of artificial rain that shrouds the Olivier’s stage before Lyndsay Turner’s revival of ‘The Crucible’ starts. The elemental cascade, Tim Lutkin’s exquisitely moody lighting and the acapella singing from a pink-clad chorus of girls is a spine-tingling combination. Intended as an allegory for the paranoid ravages of McCarthyism, Turner’s revival of Arthur Miller’s Salem Witch Trials play accentuates the class dynamics, with the men in charge indulging in hero fantasies and petty score-settling with no regard for the people they are slaughtering. The role of accuser-in-chief Abigail Williams goes to the ever-excellent Erin Doherty, who gives the character a genuine sense of gawky, vulnerable teenager. There’s also excellent work from Fisayo Akinade as disillusioned witchcraft expert Reverend Hale. Ultimately, Turner’s take is full of good ideas and atmospheric flourishes without coalescing into an entirely coherent reinvention. It’s a bit like one of those remastered editions of classic albums: you can hear a few new sounds, but it’s still great for the reasons it’s always been great.
National Theatre. Until Nov 5. From £20.
Read the full review here.
