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The Crucible Audio CD (1994) Directed by Martin Jenkins
This fine audio performance faithfully captures the spirit of Arthur Miller's play. In a brief introduction, the narrator identifies The Crucible as Miller's "thinly disguised evocation of the witch-hunt atmosphere of America in the 1950s." With no opportunity for the extra historical or political associations sometimes created through innovative set or costume design on stage, this audio version excels in its clear delivery of Miller's language. The acting is superb, with standout performances by Richard Dreyfuss as Reverend John Hale, Stacy Keach as John Proctor, Fionnula Flanagan as Elizabeth Proctor, Madolyn Smith as Abigail Williams, Carol Kane as Mary Warren, Michael York as Reverend Parris, and René Aubeijonois as Deputy Governor Danforth. The performances flesh out the characters and breathe life into Miller's dialogue. The overall production does not offer a particularly innovative interpretation of the script, but there is an intimate quality to the voices that invites listeners to pay close attention to the spoken word and to empathize with the characters as humans with attributes that transcend the place and time of seventeenth-century Salem.
Teachers may wish to play particular scenes to draw attention to the internal and social pressures of specific characters and to discuss ethical conflicts: such as the scenes in acts 2 and 3 in which Mary Warren, subject to peer pressure and bullying by Abigail, helps frame Elizabeth Proctor, or the scene in act IV, in which John Proctor refuses to sign his name to his confession.
The dialogue is fairly true to Miller's script. Several small changes throughout are purely directional, to help the listener follow along, especially when there are multiple characters in a scene. Academic listeners should be aware that a few short sections have been excised, presumably to keep the listening time at just under two hours and to omit subplots that could distract from the main storyline. Some of the omitted pieces are worth noting:
1) Rev. Parris's observation that "now seven month out of [the Proctors' house], ... no other family has ever called for your service," along with Abigail's reply: "They want slaves, not such as I. Let them send to Barbados for that. I will not black my face for any of...