T
he play this year's GCSE drama
group chose to take extracts from
was about the Salem Witch Trials,
which was as harrowing as you'd expect,
and more so. They picked out bits and
pieces from throughout the play, stringing
together a collection of intense moments
that not only got them good marks from
the examiner in the audience, but kept
the rest of the audience on the edge of
their seats.
Tarn McIntosh, Gussy Hydleman and Ellie
Coton shared the villainous role of Abigail
Williams, the jealous 17-year old girl who
starts the whole thing off and gains
herself a saintly reputation at the cost of
dozens of lives. All three made their part
their own, and convincingly played the
tricky, selfish girl; Tarn pulling off the
intimidating ringleader, Gussy the jealous
adulteress, and Ellie the creepy, selfsainted
witness.
Patrick Cartwright and Cameron Barclay
played emotionally torn, guilt-ridden John
Proctor, who cheated on his wife with
Abigail, and then, after rejecting the girl, is
accused of witchcraft himself. Both boys
got in touch with the man in a truly
poignant display of desperation and
shame, and they were matched by their
respective wives, Emily Albery and Sophia
Collins playing the betrayed, yet faithful
Elizabeth Proctor.
Annie Wagstaff, Grace Lewis and Rosie
Dymond played Mary Warren, and
managed to capture the subtle swinging
of character from cruelty to grace and
back again. Ellie McLean portrayed a
convincing, victimised Barbadian slave
called Tituba, and Joe Merriweather and
Morgan Smith performed respectively as
appropriately confused, God-fearing
reverends.
Bond Carter was an unrelenting judge, and
Flora Cohen helped Ellie increase the
creepiness factor when they set about
mimicking Rosie, claiming her character,
Mary Warren, had taken control of their
voices.
All in all it was a brilliant play, and
congratulations to everyone who took
part. Including the shivers that
relentlessly travelled down my back, I at
least had a thoroughly enjoyable evening.
Aluredian 57
The Crucible
by Ella Watts