The Crucible (Bedlam)

See it if you're a Miller fan. Script is superb (altho needs cuts). Acting is mostly strg. Many gd directorial choices, but not all. Women very strong

Don't see it if you want even tone. Overture is stylized/absurdist. Bright lights in eyes. Some bad sightlines. Pathos of end diminished.Immersive staging.

See it if You want to experience a somewhat new somewhat immersive take on this classic play. Mostly excellent performances. Very timely.

Don't see it if You can’t take sitting in really uncomfortable seats for 3+ hours or if you’re a purist. Some of the directorial choices just don’t work.

Also My head says see it...my butt says pass.

See it if Great acting and staging . Arthur Miller's classic done a new way. About the witch hunt in Salem Mass. Kinda like the one in Washington DC.

Don't see it if Don't know why it was not performed on Connelly stage . Chairs uncomfortable for 3 hours.

See it if u want to see a creative, accessible revival of MIller's indictment of McCarthyism that's almost tailor-made for our conspiracy theory era.

Don't see it if u don't like your American classics deconstructed; you expect something truly radical from this oft-iconoclastic theater company.

Also Another great production from one of NY's most original, inventive theater companies! And, despite its intermittent quirkiness (or, perhaps, because of it), this is one of the most approachable, comprehensible, relatable productions I've seen of this masterwork.

Note: Although the seats "on stage" are sold as Premium, be warned that you will be sitting on wood chairs or stools. The House seats are cushioned and still provide great viewing in this relatively small space. It's a 3-hour production, so protect your back & bottom accordingly.... Read more Read less

See it if Bedlam's kinetic, whip-lashing staging of Miller's forever timely allegory truly captures the hysteria of the period w/o subverting the text

Don't see it if Despite 3 hr length, the pace is unrelentingly feverish & jarring (esp in courtroom scenes) Anchored by fine work from Quinn & Millonzi

See it if you’d like to see a clear (if quirky) production of an American master’s most beautifully constructed play.

Don't see it if you want your Arthur Miller straight: This one plays in a few different registers.

Also I’ve seen 2 strong (& very different) productions of “The Crucible” this year; they confirm for me that this is Arthur Miller’s best constructed play. It is also his “ensemble” play. Though John Proctor is the pivotal character, his wife, a trio of men of the cloth & 2 of the “bewitched” girls are important (plum) roles; I find this arrangement more satisfyingly dramatic than Miller plays (a few of which are classic) that focus more exclusively on a single bewildered, besieged man. Because this is a Bedlam production, a certain amount of deconstruction (& its attendant irony) goes on, especially early on. Hysteria surrounds the girls’ initial charge of witchcraft in Salem & returns later in court when the girls are communing with spirits. But the powerful scenes between the Proctors are played low decibel & almost straight, &, in high contrast to the periodic general tumult, feel totally focused, deeply sad & utterly unshakable.... Read more Read less

See it if you like Miller and this play, curious about Bedlam's approach, slightly immersive version set in Colonial times, actors play multiple parts

Don't see it if you feel the play has been overdone, uncomfortable being in midst of action, don't like a slightly compact cast, expect an epic version

See it if your are ready to feel chills as Bedlam's extreme physicality enriches the brilliant script. Exciting drama!

Don't see it if you want something light and cheery. This is serious drama taken to an extreme.

See it if Salem's lot is alive and kicking and landing on the L.E.S. with emphasis on the ramifications of being righteously sure, but still uncertain

Don't see it if Steps taken for audience's discomfort with monochromatics, seating, and rationale for relevance; but at some point, news fatigue settles in.

Also Your high school play is longer than you remember, but they kept the seats.... Read more Read less

See it if Like Bedlam’s creative take on classic work, even if some scenes are too farcical for the material. It’s creative & mostly absorbing theater

Don't see it if Don’t like Arthur Miller, semi-immersive staging, 3 hrs, uncomf seats. It’s polished but direction/acting uneven throughout. Lots of shriek.

See it if You really enjoy Bedlam and the The Crucible. You know someone in the production. You really want to see The Crucible performed.

Don't see it if At 3hrs long it was interminable. The chairs were uncomfortable, it was often difficult to hear the actors. There was a mixed bag of talent.

See it if 2 experience CRUCIBLE through a different lens & take alternate journey, never understood hysteria, want 2 compare/contrast now with then

Don't see it if can't withstand 3 hrs of courtroom drama, can't empathize with outsiders, can't walk in someone else's shoes, don't like "problem" plays

Also Greatest take-away from this version of CRUCIBLE is personally registering the laundry list of results of the witch trials, [hanging hundreds, torturing even more] resulting in orphaned children, abandoned farm animals wandering village streets, homelessness, legal battles for property all based on the requirement for individuals to come down on one side or other of a black or white determination of truth. There are no shades of gray in the world the characters inhabit. Those that tell the lie are the conquerors.... Read more Read less

See it if you love this play.I expect more interesting interpretations from Bedlam.This was very straightforward.Better than Van Hove's version.

Don't see it if you were expecting a new, updated telling of this wonderful play.The production itself felt like a high school show.Nothing compelling.

See it if As good as van Hove’s B’way version but without special effects or shirtlessness. Preserves Miller’s intent to keep the witchcraft imaginary

Don't see it if you’re more intrstd in the paranormal than in typical human wickedness, or expect Bedlam to do something conceptually radical to the play.

Also Good baseline Crucible. Some Crucibles begin w/ a bang but drop off dramatically once the story goes domestic. This one starts weak but finishes strong. Signature Bedlam contrasts in style/speed; but the show does well by the intense script & its characters caught in the riptide of suspicion.

Standouts: Millonzi does real justice to Goody Proctor. Lazar's an infuriating Danforth. Quinn’s convincing in John’s agonized repentance. Tucker also splices in a deleted scene by Miller that illuminates Abigail & John’s relationship. (The scene w/ flashlights.)

Anyone who sees MeToo in this misconstrues the movement to end sexual harassment as a power grab by dishonest women wishing to exploit credulous institutions. As Abigail plans to marry John (per deleted scene) she’d be the least likely woman to say MeToo. Also, don’t be quick to attribute liberal bias to the show, as teapartyers are as likely to identify w/ Truth-loving John Proctor, distrust government intervention, & cry "witch-hunt."... Read more Read less

See it if An excellent production of a Miller play. A unique venue and staging added interest to this revival. Fully engaged for the entire 3 hours.

Don't see it if If you are more comfortable with light dramas or musicals.

See it if you haven't seen Crucible before and you don't mind a version designed to attack today's Republicans and fundamentalists.

Don't see it if you saw Hunger Theater's version at Access this Spring and realize doing this show straight does not make it less relevant.

Also My initial impression of Hitler's Tasters was incorrect and changed (as had the danger to the country) the 2nd time I saw it this Spring. It was necessary and acceptable to beat the audience over the parallels between Hitler and Trump. But Crucible has always used the crimes and excesses of yesteryear to expose current fanaticism. I don't think it needs a frenetic production to expose the irrational behavior of religious and political leaders. Hunger Theater's production at Access, modernized to be sure, managed to be much truer to the original text and purpose, than this more "true" to the text, but not the production, show.

I could once again be wrong, but this Crucible lost something on its insistence on making it present, instead of Miller's trust in the audience's ability to recognize the universalism of evil across time.... Read more Read less

See it if You like Bedlam Productions, Dont' miss this one. I LOVED IT.

Don't see it if You don't like classics done in new. creative ways,

See it if You like classic plays and don't mind if they're given an unconventional treatment.

Don't see it if You can't sit or pay attention for a long play (almost three hours); you've already seen enough productions of The Crucible to last you.

Also This was my first exposure to The Crucible, so I can't compare it to other productions. But I was seated in the playing area on one of the tall chairs, and I really enjoyed the immediacy. (The wooden chair was really uncomfortable though.) For Act 2 my friend and I opted to move into the main seating area, and I have to say I regretted giving up my on-stage seating. Sitting close to the action in this astounding production pays dividends. Plus, it's harder to hear the actors the farther back you sit.

I enjoyed all the performances and the inventive staging. Highly recommended!... Read more Read less

See it if It's one of the greatest plays of all time and eternally relevant. So if you haven't seen it, see it. But this production isn't great.

Don't see it if You've seen good productions of The Crucible. The direction is weird, they try too hard to make it funny (is it supposed to be funny?). Ick.

See it if Immersive and fast-paced, you are quickly surrounded by puritanical America in all its severity and harshness.

Don't see it if Attendees are forced to sit in uncomfortable wooden chairs and harsh lighting sets the scenes, which is gripping but physically excruciating

Also Excellent acting all around-- very clever use of stage and sets​ and the semi-immersive environment was brilliant. The pace was insane--and initially just came at you with a bang-- but once you got into the flow it was hard to get off this fast-paced train ride.... Read more Read less

See it if Great, all-around immersive production. Listen to the words.

Don't see it if Frenetic and long.

See it if You love Miller’s plays. Not the best rendition I’ve seen, but an ambitious effort.

Don't see it if You are not a Miller fan & don’t like long shows on uncomfortable seats.

See it if I love the Crucible and I love Bedlam so what could go wrong? Oh, right, Bedlam doing the Crucible. Just not a good fit in my opinion.

Don't see it if Some light comedy in Salem? and some odd directing/acting choices just took away from the impact of the play for me. Seriocomedy not working

See it if you like The Crucible and enjoy a happy medium between fresh and traditional.

Don't see it if you can’t sit through a three hour play.

Also I love the aesthetic of the on stage chairs (which I was so privileged to sit in), but bring a cushion.

There are a couple acting and directing missteps, but the hits hit so hard that I'm sure I'll only remember the positive. The on stage action was engaging throughout.... Read more Read less

See it if there's a bit of Bedlam's zaniness but it's also deadly serious. The play is brilliant & the actors' investment in their characters results

Don't see it if this is heavy duty poetry and deep allegory. There is humor but it's not a light diversion - Miller is a genius but he's not fun.

Also in a profoundly moving experience. The real witchery is onstage.