The Burlington High School Drama Club has outdone itself this year with its presentation of The Crucible, by Arthur Miller on December 4 and 5. The production boasted a large cast of Burlington High School students and of the 21 cast members, 11 came from the ranks of the music department as did every member of the set construction and stage crew!
In 2006 the Burlington High School Drama Club, under the guidance of advisor/director Sue LaVoie, decided to produce a fall play to give theatre opportunities to students early in the school year. The first three productions were comedies with the inaugural production in 2006 of Fools, a comedy by Neil Simon, followed in 2007 by a more high-brow comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest,by Oscar Wilde. The year 2008 brought a new advisor/director, Anne Ford, to the Drama Club and another Neil Simon comedy, Rumors, was brought to life.
This year, however, opened a new chapter and level of performance at BHS with the production of The Crucible, a political allegory, addressing two events in American history: the Salem witch trials and the McCarthy hearings. Shannon Janovitz, BHS English teacher and Stage Manager for the production, commented that the play “addresses themes of personal and social responsibility, as well as fear, hysteria, and the corruption of power,” and further described it as “a strong example of protest literature … it is at once engaging and thought-provoking.” She concluded that The Crucible’s “intentions are to leave audiences with both a sense of hope for humanity, and an understanding of what it means to be socially responsible.”
The student actors in The Crucible were outstanding in their portrayals of the Salem Witch Trial era characters, taking on not just the subject matter in such a mature production, but also the understanding of period physical traits, mannerisms and dialogue. Bravo and kudos to each and every one of the performers (listed in order of appearance): Michael Keating as Reverend Samuel Parris, Futaba Shioda as Betty Parris, Michelle Lee as Tituba, Chelsea Rose as Abigail Williams, Taylor Waisnor as Susanna Wallcott, Maria Perfetti as Mrs. Ann Putnam, Andrew Maurer as Thomas Putnam, Stephanie Swiszcz as Mercy Lewis, Marissa Cote as Mary Warren, Kevin Parker as John Proctor, Emily Murgo as Rebecca Nurse, Danielle Schissler as Giles Corey, Rameez Pervaiz as Reverend John Hale, Caroline Coe as Elizabeth Proctor, Peter DeBarros as Francis Nurse, Katie Baker as Ezekial Cheever, Chris Coe as Marshall John Willard, Stuart Gelin as Judge Hathorne, David Murray as Deputy-Governor Danforth, Giovanna Fernandes as Martha Corey/Ruth Putnam and Bridget Hoarty as Sarah Good.
BHS productions not only provide opportunity for students on stage but they also develop skills and leadership backstage. The following students held backstage and tech responsibilities during The Crucible: Daryn Starkey as Assistant Stage Manager, John DiRusso as Lighting Engineer, Chris LaRocque as Sound Engineer, Tori Carrabino as Prop Master, Jessica Olin as Assistant Sound Engineer and Natalie Casey as Hair and Makeup specialist. Set Construction and Stage Crew members were Nick Abruzzese, Tori Carrabino, Edward Chilliest, Sam Cote, Ian Drummond, Chris LaRocque, John Kelley, Jessica Olin, Daryn Starkey and Nicholas Stewart.
Also helping to stage the show were Tim Rose on Set Construction and Publicity, Vanessa Ovian as Public Relations Manger, Chet Maguire on Publicity, Kate McMahon on Set Construction and Ticket Management, Rob Ford on Graphics and Music and Alan McRae (BHS Science) as Videographer.
Finally, this production would not have been possible without the expertise and professionalism of Anne Sawyer Ford as Director (also Poster and Program Designer), Shannon Janovitz as Stage Manager and John Middleton-Cox as Lighting and Sound Designer. These three individuals put their heart and soul into every moment they spent with the students in the preparation and execution of this production, securing a place for The Crucible at the top of the list of memorable productions at BHS.
Special Note: The BHS Music Boosters Association used the production nights as a fundraising opportunity by selling concessions before the performance and during intermission.
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