Nearly five decades ago, in the spring of 1977, the staging of The Crucible inspired the name for the Augur Bit. In the play, Deputy Governor Danforth warns: “A very auger bit will now be turned into your souls until your honesty is proved.”
This fall, GDS revisits the Salem witch trials with a new production of The Crucible. After the opening on Nov. 14 and additional performances on Nov. 15 and 16, the show will return to the stage on Nov. 22 and 23. High school theater director János Szász said he chose The Crucible because of its timeless relevance.
“Theater needs to represent the present and the future,” he said. The play examines themes of truth, honor and societal pressures.
The story begins with an incident in which Abigail Williams, played by junior Natasha Rubinson, is found dancing in the woods with her friends. Abigail attempts to place the blame on Elizabeth Proctor, John Proctor’s wife, with whom Abigail falls in love.
The townspeople lose their trust in one another as all those involved spread varied rumors of witchcraft. Widespread hysteria ensues across Salem, Massachusetts.
Szász said that doing a production with such complex themes was a wonderful journey and also a challenge. “Every cast member was ready to do something hard, something heavy, something dramatic,” Szász said.
Senior Henry Cohen, who plays Reverend Parris, an uncle of Abigail and a public figure in the town, said that much of what makes the show exciting is that every character is so emotionally complex. “Everyone’s pointing fingers; everyone is thinking about themselves and their best interests, even if it’s something that destroys the community,” he said.
Cohen added that he was skeptical about The Crucible when rehearsals first began, as he felt that the production was too commonly done by high schools. However, his beliefs have since changed. “It’s such a cliché, but I think we’ve really done something new and interesting with it,” he said.
He echoed the idea that The Crucible is relevant now more than ever. “I think what János Szász has done with it is great,” Cohen said. He found that the story reflected the present through its portrayal of times of division and misinformation across communities.
“He [Szász] has a lot of goals, a lot of dreams, a lot of visions for this show,” said junior props crew head Mad Lee. Lee added that in Szász’s second year of directing the fall play, he has become more comfortable with his role as director.
Junior EJ Mazo, who plays Elizabeth Proctor, said that she enjoyed getting to be a part of something so heavy and difficult. “It’s very emotionally tough, even to watch,” she said. “I really like that it’s dramatic and very emotional. I think from an acting point of view that’s really fun to do.”
Freshman Liv Glendinning, who plays Betty and Martha Corey, agreed with Mazo. “I really like how flawed all of the characters are,” she said.
Several members of the crew also noted how compelling the show was. “I like the underlying themes of speculation and doubt, and also sexism and misogyny,” freshman Jack Gresens, who worked on props and costumes, said. “I think those really play a vital role in helping tell the story.”
Lee said that when they were listening to the play, they felt moved by the characters. “I can really hear how scary it is to not be trusted by your closest comrades, or your own wife, or the people you go to church with.”
Cohen encouraged all students, faculty and parents to come see the show. “I love it so much. I hope everyone else will,” he said.
CORRECTION (Jan. 5, 2025): The original version of this article incorrectly referred to the 2024 staging of The Crucible as the first time it was shown on the GDS stage since 1977. The Crucible was last produced on the GDS stage in 2012.