Pitlochry
Festival Theatre
Four
stars
When
Judge Danforth talks about getting to the bottom of the swamp in the third act
courtroom scene of Arthur Miller’s McCarthy era masterpiece, it’s hard not to
pick up on the accidental contemporary resonance of such populist rhetoric. This
is one of many things that stand out in Elizabeth Newman’s production, which
sees Salem inhabited by the spirit of Pitlochry itself, embodied here by
designer Adrian Rees’ sturdy reproduction of the shoogly suspension bridge that
crosses the River Tummel.
Like
any small town after dark from Pitlochry to Twin Peaks, Salem holds its
secrets. Here, it comes in the shape of a girl gang raving it up in the woods
as any bored teenagers might.
The
hysteria that results from such hormonally charged wig-outs to what’s perceived
to be the Devil’s music - personified here by freeform bursts of electric
guitar and drums – has consequences beyond the mere letting off of adolescent steam.
Much
of this is down to the mean girls themselves, who fall under the influence of
Fiona Wood’s Abigail Williams. Abigail’s status is high following her illicit
dalliance with Harry Long’s John Proctor, and the girls believe themselves to be
invincible as they bask in the fame their games have brought them before things
get out of hand.
With
Newman’s largely youngish cast clad in various shades of denim, there is little
ambiguity here about who is being stitched up. These days, Abigail’s clique would
be indulging in social media pile-ons against the likes of Elizabeth Proctor,
played here by Claire Dargo in a poignant study of put-upon integrity in the
face of her husband’s grudging martyrdom. Deirdre Davis adds gravitas as Danforth,
and it is with the judge the buck must stop, as every bridge that once kept a
community together in fragile peace is burnt beyond repair.
The Herald, July 15th 2019
Ends
Comments