Set for ‘The Crucible’

Suzie Harrison

Prior to their final rehearsal of Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible”

on Tuesday night, Laguna Beach High School’s award-winning Park

Avenue Players were all seated closely together in the drama room,

looking a lot like a locker room huddle before a big game.

“Kids this is the last rehearsal,” said Mark Dressler, director

and drama teacher. “I think this is the most important production

we’ve ever done. It’s dramatic and true. Arthur Miller is recognized

as one of the greatest playwrights in America, and this is some of

the best drama ever written.”

The atmosphere was charged with energy. Dressler enthusiastically

yelled out suggestions to his players. Marisa Reisman, 16, vice

president of the Park Avenue Players, said he did it every night

before they went back on stage, a critique of the prior run.

“You’ve got to have a presence, a magic, being sure of oneself and

doing it,” Dressler said. Make something magical happen, keep your

head in this ball game.”

The group’s ballgame, in this case the classic American tragedy,

opened Thursday and will run Nov. 16, 17, 21, 22 and 23 at the

Artists’ Theatre.

Reisman, who plays one of the lead characters, Elizabeth Proctor,

thinks that they’ll put on an amazing production.

“It’s all true,” Reisman said. “It’s based off of the Salem

witchcraft trials ....Although Arthur Miller took some creative

liberties, a lot of the dialogue did occur, as did the characters.”

During the review, Dressler said the importance of the dramatic

element of the climatic scene.

“It’s the climax, it’s so well written,” Dressler said. “It’s

dipping the pen gently. The climax is you dipping the quill in the

ink.”

The cast ranges quite a bit in age, with actors from the fourth

grade to seniors, Reisman said.

Julianne Butler, 17, the stage manager, has worked backstage since

she was in the eighth grade.

“I like being in charge,” Butler said. “I like all the people. All

the actors are my friends, so spending so much time with them is

fun.”

That seemed to be the common attitude among the students, one of

camaraderie and strong friendships.

“The cast of the show is like a family,” Becky Johnson, 17, said.

“It’s a place where you can stress about yourself, do homework. The

atmosphere is the best -- that’s why I do plays.”

Johnson, a co-vice president for the production, plays Rebecca

Nurse, a wise old sage.

The students said they enjoy the message of “The Crucible” and how

it applied to dilemmas of times past, as well as today’s moral

dilemmas, social mores and political strife.

“This show is all about scapegoats, peer pressure and doing things

right in the face of everyone,” Reisman said.

“This play speaks to the heart of human nature,” Dressler said.