By Millie Appleton

Witches, hysteria and deception: the perfect ingredients for an emotionally powerful, thought-provoking play. “The Crucible” is a time-honored play written by one of America’s greatest playwrights, Arthur Miller, and is currently being produced by the UA Drama Department.

The play revolves around young girls accusing prominent members in Salem, Mass., of being witches and how their lie sends the community into turmoil. Yet the complexities of the show dig deeper into the responsibility of the individual in the face of evil.

“It’s an amazing combination of passion and intelligence and also about a big idea – we as individuals in society have a responsibility to tell the truth to the community and to ourselves,” said Kate Frank, director of “The Crucible.”

Miller wrote the play in response to the era of McCarthyism and the Red Scare in the 1950’s, and he was affected himself by the anti-Communism panic. However, the play is easily just as relevant in today’s society of mob hysteria and its consequences.

“Even today, a group can be demonized and persecuted,” Frank said. “For example, when we talk about our country and how we use techniques of torture to derive false confessions from suspected terrorists.”

The production has many practical applications for audience members to take away.

“It’s a nice, simple message: Don’t jump on the bandwagon too early for anything. It’s sort of cautionary in that way,” said Laura Harrell, a graduate assistant who portrays Elizabeth Proctor in the UA production.

The story could also help people have more of an open mind and consider facts before jumping to conclusions just because of something they have heard, said Patrice Foster, a graduate assistant who plays Rebecca Nurse in the show.

Though “The Crucible” is a popular production all across the country, many aspects of the UA production are as thrilling and unique to a newcomer as to a Miller enthusiast.

“This one’s a lot more simple and all about the story. The set is really minimalist and there’s a lot of really beautiful music to help the story along. It’s also very eerie, and it has a haunting quality in a good way,” Foster said.

The modest set design is balanced by the lighting, music and costume design that pull the production together to paint a beautiful picture on stage, Foster said. It is also open for the audience to truly focus on the story and characters.

“The audience gets to know the characters and hurt with them and be anxious with them about telling a truth or a lie,” said sophomore Keila Lorenc, who plays Mercy Lewis in the show.

The classic play that spans through generations will keep audience members entertained and in suspense.

“The (audience) will enjoy a performance of a wonderful cast of actors and the telling of a fascinating story,” Frank said.

“The Crucible” will be performed in the University Theatre 8 p.m. Nov. 18 through Nov. 21 and 2 p.m. Nov. 22. Tickets for students are free for the Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday performances. Other tickets can be bought for $3 at the University Theatre Ticket Office.