Grand opens ‘The Crucible’

The New Surry Theatre will be opening its production of Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” on Friday, Aug. 13 at the Grand Auditorium in Ellsworth.

ELLSWORTH -- The New Surry Theatre production of Arthur Millers’ “The Crucible,” will open at The Grand, Main Street, at 8 p.m., Friday, Aug. 13.

     The play is a story about what happens when a small community of 17th century Puritans in Salem, Mass., is overcome by fear and superstition.

     Playwright Miller was inspired to write this harrowing tale about the Salem witch trials by the equally harrowing events surrounding the McCarthy hearings in the 1950s when the whole country was overcome by its fear of Communists. Director Bill Raiten insists “The Crucible” is not a political play.

     “It’s about peer pressure and what happens when we let fear and ignorance overtake our ability to think for ourselves and make common sense decisions,” he said.

     The play stars Ron Adams and Alexandra Lincoln as John and Elizabeth Proctor. They are joined by McKenzie Lirakis as Abigail Williams; Julian Chapman as John Willard; Lauren Carter as Mercy Lewis; Jane Clarke as Tituba; Caitlin Powell as Susanna Wallcott; Kelly Wilder as Betty Parris; Tim Pugliese as Rev. Samual Parris; Cindy Robbins as Mrs. Anne Putnam; Keith Robinson as Thomas Putnam; Elizabeth Moran as Mary Warren; Dindy Royster as Rebecca Nurse; Peter Colman as Giles Corey; Ralph Chapman as Rev. John Hale; Gene Williams as Francis Nurse; Perry Halbert as Ezekiel Cheever; Tony Cox as Judge Hathorn; David Halbert as Deputy Governor Danforth and Shari John as Sarah Good.

     After its opening on Friday the 13th, “The Crucible” will be performed in the evenings Aug. 14, 19, 20, and 21, with a 3 p.m. matinee Aug. 15.

     For tickets call 667-9500.