Photo by Jason DeMoe
Mercy Lewis (Bri Flasch), and Abigail Williams (Kennedy Crever) look after a frightened Betty Parris (Abbey Rue) in a scene from “The Crucible.” The show opens on the Forest Lake High School stage May 1.
Director Craig Zimanske is ushering in some change to the Forest Lake Area High School theater department by providing the student thespians an opportunity to flex some dramatic muscle as they put the final touches on the stage production of Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible.”
Zimanske, a FLAHS language arts teacher, previously directed the comedies “You Can’t Take It With You” and “A Year With Frog and Toad.”
“The decision to do this show was part of a months-long thought process,” he said. “It came down to the fact that I believe I have the right student talent for these parts and also my own selfish want to do something serious and stretch my own abilities.”
Zach Marleau (John Proctor) and Adam Sieber (Reverend Parris) share a scene from the upcoming stage production of “The Crucible.”
“The Crucible,” which is required reading for all FLAHS sophomores, recounts the events surrounding the Salem witch trials, a time when paranoia, hysteria and deceit gripped the Puritan towns of New England.
“I have a number of students in lead roles that are playing parts that seem to have been made just for them,” Zimanske said. “I am also able to feature a lot of seniors, as 10 of my 26 cast members will graduate at the end of this year.”
Featured performers include Zach Marleau playing the role of the protagonist John Proctor and both Kennedy Crever and Klare Hollencamp sharing the lead female role of the young girl, Abigail Williams, who accuses many in the town of being associated with the devil.
“Zach is an extremely versatile actor, and this role is very fitting for what he can bring to the table,” Zimanske said. “Kennedy and Klare both capture Abigail very well. The character is unique in that she is malicious, yet you do feel sorry for her and both students cast in that role do well to portray that contrast.”
Some may consider “The Crucible” to be a controversial choice as it deals with not only witchcraft, but also themes of adultery, death, paranoia and religious extremism.
“I teach this material, and I am fairly well versed,” Zimanske said. “We have been having some serious conversations with the kids about some of the things in this show. We are very upfront with them and their families about what comes up in the show and how its portrayed. The kids often question what something means or why a certain character said a certain line. We make the time to interrupt rehearsal to discuss some of the darker themes.”
In the end, Zimanske simply wants his audience to walk away with a better understanding of power and fear and how that can cause people to stray from their morals.
“There is a misconception that this play is very anti-moral or anti-Christian, and it’s not,” he said. “The people who stay true to their faith and belief and morals are the ones who are celebrated at the end. The lesson learned is that if you let fear run your life, then things get out of control.”
“The Crucible” will be performed on the FLAHS auditorium stage at 7 p.m. May 1, 2, 8 and 9 and at 2 p.m. May 10. Tickets will be available at the door beginning 30 minutes before each performance.
