Lies and ruined lives: Bonstelle’s “The Crucible” mirrors modern media mudslinging

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Aeisha Reese (left) of Flint as Mary Warren, Malvina Mirowski of Sterling Heights as Betty Parris and Mackenzie Conn of Walled Lake as Abigail Williams perform in the Wayne State University Bonstelle Theatre production of Arthur Miller's "The Crucible."   Photo by Patrick Pozezinski

Lies and ruined lives: Bonstelle’s “The Crucible” mirrors modern media mudslinging
By SUE SUCHYTA                        Wayne State University presents ArthurMiller’s powerful 1953 Tony Award-winning play, “The Crucible” for two moreperformances, at 8 p.m. Oct. 20 and 2 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Bonstelle Theatre,4743 Cass Avenue in Detroit. Formore information call the Bonstelle box office at (313) 577-2960 or go towww.bonstelle.com.             The show, known as a drama about theSalem witch trials and an allegory of McCarthyism and the Communist witch-huntsof the 1950s, resonates eerily during the current presidential campaign. In eachscenario, opportunists blur the line between truth and falsehood unfettered by amoral conscience.              Directed by Lavinia Hart, TheBonstelle Company delivers a masterful piece of theatre that draws one in andleaves its audience emotionally drained with its intensity and powerfulmessage. Self-serving lies destroy innocent lives, and paralyze a community withfear in its deadly aftermath.             Anthony Karpinski’s set is stunningand versatile. From a stark leafless tree dominating the wall upstage, growbranches that resemble headless bodies running frantically in space but gettingnowhere. Rough-hewn wooden fencelike backdrops paired with platforms serve asmany different locations, transformed by splashes or absence of color createdby lighting designer Gabriel Rice.            Rice also creates both a blood redsky and spooky jack-o-lantern lighting against the austere gray set, adding apassionate contrast to a rigid, repressive society that eschewed indulgence.             Sound designer Mike Thomas sets themood before any dialogue is spoken with eerie rumbling techno-music and therustle of skirts amplified to sound like thunder before even the first line ofdialogue is uttered.            Once the words begin to flow,though, they capture the audience with a cavalcade of lies spilling uncontrolledout of the floodgates. Some lies begin out of jealousy; others are merely tohide personal transgressions. However, in the rigid, judgmental society of 1692Salem, words used to save ones’ life turn on others to condemn them to death.Technical director Fred Florkowski helps makes the stagemagic come to life, while costume designer Donna Buckley clothed the cast in the era.            Mackenzie Conn of Walled Lake turnsin a riveting performance as Abigail Williams, the 17-year-old antagonist who,spurned by John Proctor after an affair when she was a household servant,accuses his wife Elizabeth Proctor of witchcraft, hoping to see her hang so shecan win back John Proctor.             Young girls, caught in the woodswithout alibis, start accusing others of witchcraft to explain theirtransgressions.  As the group feeds onthe power of their lies and hysteria builds in the community, fear encirclesthe town, where they begin to kill those pleading innocent to the crime ofwitchcraft.            Other outstanding performers includeIvy Haralson of Belleville as Tituba, Michael Meike of Clinton Township asJudge Danforth and Aeisha Reese of Flint as Mary Warren.             Others in thestrong cast include Jacqueline Fenton of Allen Park as Susanna Walcott, Daniel Finn of Armada as Ezekiel Cheever, Jordan Fritz of River Rouge as Giles Corey, Amber Gale of Detroit as Girl1 and Robert J. Hammond ofTroy as Willard.Shannon Hurst of Warren plays Girl 4, Sharayah Johnsonof Birch Run portrays AnnPutnam, Sara Kline of RoyalOak is Rebecca Nurse and Kelly Klopocinski of Sterling Heightsembodies the role of Elizabeth Proctor.Other cast members include Alyssa Lucas of Garden City as Mercy Lewis, Colin Mallory of East Lansing as Reverend Parris, JacksonMcLaskey of Mt Clemens as JohnProctor and Matthew Miazgowicz of Dearborn as Thomas Putnam.Yesmeen Mikhail of Wyandotte plays Sarah Good, with MalvinaMirowski of Sterling Heights as BettyParris, Hope Morawa of LincolnPark as Girl 3, Bryauna Perkins of Chesterfield as Hopkins and Girl 2 and Aeisha Reese ofFlint as Mary Warren.Laith Salim of Dearborn plays Francis Nurse, StuartSturton of Dexter portrays JudgeHathorne and Nicholas Yocum ofRoyal Oak is Reverend Hale.              For tickets or more information, call (313)577-2960 or go to www.bonstelle.com.