I have to say I was really excited to see this play (in spite of its heavy content), firstly to watch and support friends performing the work but also because I haven't seen a straight play in ages and was hungry for a classical piece of dramatic work.
This poignant Arthur Miller piece written in 1953 was presented in a way that drew me in and had me emotionally involved from start to finish. Particularly when I take into account that the play set during the Salem Witch trials of 1692, is based on actual events where the vindictiveness of human nature fueled enraged religious witch hunts.
The sheer brilliance of the direction, performances and creative elements is testament to true theatrical talents in our country and for me as an actress, it had me metaphorically salivating to not only personally be doing work like this but also to watch more productions of its nature and quality.
Gimme more layered dual characterizations, more pure unadulterated theatre and more timeless classic plays!
The direction by Alby Michaels blew me away with a wonderful blend of professional talents and up-and-coming UJ students. It was such a pleasure to watch friends Neels Clasen, Cindy Swanepoel and Jacques Bessenger performing this kind of material and I thoroughly enjoyed each of their performances. Jacques Bessenger astounded me in his dual roles of Reverend John Hale and Reverend Parris; his transitions felt seamless and his fleshed out characters captivating. Neelsie, Neelsie... what can I say.. a man of many talents, Neels Clasen as John Proctor.. it's hard not to shed a tear when this mighty man breaks down and weeps on his knees in a bed of autumn leaves - powerful. I know Cindy Swanepoel mostly from her comedy work and it was delightful to see her tackle both demanding roles of Abigail and Elizabeth Proctor with such fervor. It was my first time seeing Lebohang Motaung (Mr Thomas Putnam, Giles Corey and Givenor Danforth) as well as Chan Marti (Mrs Putnam and Rebecca Nurse) perform and they were both excellent in their dual portrayals. I thought the students held their own with a particular stand out performance by Thobile Makukule as Tituba. 
It's fun to see so many friends' creative work showcased and I feel a sense of 'big sister' pride in their successes. AND it's always a pleasure to have our mentorship graduate FADlings along who continue to grow together with us - Roelien, Morne (aka James!) and Michaela - Love you guys!
"[W]e conceive the Devil as a necessary part of a respectable view of cosmology. Ours is a divided empire in which certain ideas and emotions and actions are of God, and their opposites are of Lucifer. it is as impossible for most men to conceive of a morality without sin as of an earth without a 'sky'. Since 1692 a great but superficial change has wiped out God's beard and the Devil's horns, but the world is still gripped between two diametrically opposed absolutes. The concept of unity, in which positive and negative are attributes of the same force, in which good and evil are relative, ever-changing, and always joined to the same phenomenon - such a concept is still reserved to the physical sciences and to the few who have grasped the history of ideas." Arthur Miller THE CRUCIBLE
This piece is quoted in the program:
"[W]e conceive the Devil as a necessary part of a respectable view of cosmology. Ours is a divided empire in which certain ideas and emotions and actions are of God, and their opposites are of Lucifer. it is as impossible for most men to conceive of a morality without sin as of an earth without a 'sky'. Since 1692 a great but superficial change has wiped out God's beard and the Devil's horns, but the world is still gripped between two diametrically opposed absolutes. The concept of unity, in which positive and negative are attributes of the same force, in which good and evil are relative, ever-changing, and always joined to the same phenomenon - such a concept is still reserved to the physical sciences and to the few who have grasped the history of ideas." Arthur Miller THE CRUCIBLE
I believe there may be only one performance left on this Saturday 15.00 at UJ Arts Centre so get onto Computicket or contact the UJ Arts Centre offices during working hours. For more information call 011 559 3058
011 559 3058 or e-mail preciousm@uj.ac.za. Tickets are R80, R70 for pensioners and R50 for students - nothing! Go see it! (But take tissues and wear waterproof mascara)
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Chat soon guys!
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