The Crucible

By: Arthur Miller

Narrated by: Stacy Keach, Richard Dreyfuss, Ed Begley Jr., Hector Elizondo, full cast

In the rigid theocracy of Salem, Massachusetts, rumors that women are practicing witchcraft galvanize the town. In a searing portrait of a community engulfed by panic—with ruthless prosecutors, and neighbors eager to testify against neighbor—The Crucible famously mirrors the anti-Communist hysteria that held the United States in its grip in the 1950’s. A Tony Award Winner for Best Play. A BBC and KCRW co-production.

Recorded at Culver Studios, Culver City in March 1988.

Directed by Martin Jenkins.

Producing Director: Susan Albert Loewenberg

An L.A. Theatre Works full cast performance starring:

Irene Aranga as Mercy Lewis

René Auberjonois as Deputy Governor Danforth

Ed Begley Jr. as Thomas Putnam

Georgia Brown as Rebecca Nurse

Jack Coleman as Marshal Herrick

Bud Cort as Ezekiel Cheever

Richard Dreyfuss as Reverend John Hale

Héctor Elizondo as Giles Corey

Judyann Elder as Tituba

Fionnula Flanagan as Elizabeth Proctor

Ann Hearne as Susanna Walcott

Carol Kane as Mary Warren

Stacey Keach as John Proctor

Anna Sophie Loewenberg as Betty Parris

Marian Mercer as Mrs. Ann Putnam

Franklyn Seales as Judge Hathorne

Madolyn Smith as Abigail Williams

Joe Spano as Francis Nurse

Michael York as Reverend Parris

(P)1994 L.A. Theatre Works

Well balanced pace...

The narrator has a well balanced pace that may benefit those who need to read the book quickly but efficiently. Although it a couple of sentences here and there will be skipped it is admissible.

A story of McCarthyism hidden in the 17th Century

I remember learning about the Salem Witch Trials and McCarthyism from my American history class. The two events that took place 250 years apart from each other are often compared for their similarities. I had read the playbook for The Crucible in my high school literature class, seen the play performed live as well as watching the movie and television show adaptations of its story. However, what I have not done until very recently is remember when the author actually wrote the story and when it was initially theatrically produced. I was not a literature or theater major in college and I only carried a passing interest in historical matters. So, it was not immediately apparent to me how fresh the McCarthy trials would have been on the minds of the audience members who watched the initial live performances of The Crucible being performed in America. If those audience members had access to something equivalent to online social media, I wouldn't be surprised if they would start issuing statements like #CommunismPartyIsOver in their editorialized statements to anyone within earshot.

Great Story That's Tough to Follow

The story and performances are amazing, but fair warning. It can be difficult to follow who is saying what because you're listening to a play without visuals.

Gripping story & a warning against repeating history: Salem, McCarthyism, ???

This production is excellent. The actors give compelling performances of this important and story based on the real Salem witch trials. Society ends up shredding itself when people conform too rigidly, care too much what their community thinks of them, are willing to stay quiet in the face of small & great wrongs, and allow hysteria to set. Stay calm & reasonable is an old but relevant message for our times.

Very good

My daughter had to read it for school. so I thought I would too. I really enjoyed it