JOHN PROCTOR IS THE VILLAIN Reviews

Not sure.

The exit doors of the Booth Theatre are covered in colored sticky notes tonight with responses to the question, “What was your favorite song at age 16?”

Expecting and hoping for raves.

The Guardian

John Proctor Is the Villain review – smart and snappy high school comedy

Booth Theatre, New York

Stranger Things star Sadie Sink takes the lead in a wonderfully written new Broadway show about high schoolers grappling with hot potato issues in 2018

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/apr/14/john-proctor-is-the-villain-review

AMNY:

Review | John Proctor is the Villain: Salem’s hero gets #MeToo’d

https://www.amny.com/entertainment/theater/review-john-proctor-is-the-villain/

"The play doesn’t discard “The Crucible.” It wrestles with it—closely, critically, personally. The students point out how John Proctor remains emotionally distant and never fully acknowledges the harm he has caused to others. These aren’t acts of revisionism; they’re acts of engagement. And in that sense, “John Proctor is the Villain” becomes not just a critique of a text, but an embodiment of how literature should be read: actively, critically, and with full awareness of who gets to tell the story."

The Wrap: Hofler is typically negative

‘John Proctor Is the Villain’ Broadway Review: Sadie Sink Deconstructs ‘The Crucible’

The “Stranger Things” star returns to the stage in yet another play about white male toxicity

https://www.thewrap.com/john-proctor-is-the-villain-broadway-review-sadie-sink/

"

As a critic, I sometimes wonder if playwrights ever go to the theater. If they did, they would know that contemporary plays are replete with strong female characters and it is equally replete with villains who are invariably white, straight and male. I’ve written that sentence almost as much as I’ve written that playwrights invariably cast journalists as villains (who are often white, straight and male) in their plays and musicals.

Ebert’s white, straight and male teacher is probably the most charming of that growing, crowded field of villainous characters. Watching “John Proctor,” I was reminded of Pauline Kael’s review of the film version of “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,” and how Maggie Smith’s character is a fascist but she’s also the only interesting teacher at the school.

Ditto Ebert’s teacher. Ebert delivers this production’s only compelling performance, and when he leaves the stage, I could only wait for his theatrical toxicity to return to give me something to watch."

Deadline

‘John Proctor Is The Villain’ Broadway Review: Sadie Sink Works Magic In Riveting New Play

https://deadline.com/2025/04/john-proctor-is-the-villain-broadway-review-sadie-sink-1236367854/

2 1/2 from NYP

‘John Proctor is the Villain’ review: ‘Stranger Things’ star Sadie Sink leads likable, long MeToo drama

https://nypost.com/2025/04/14/entertainment/john-proctor-is-the-villain-review-stranger-things-star-sadie-sink-leads-likable-long-metoo-drama/

Observer

Review: High Schoolers Tell Truth and Shame the Devil in ‘John Proctor is the Villain’

In the most energizing and emotionally wrecking drama this season a group of high school students is studying "The Crucible" and processing the #MeToo movement.

https://observer.com/2025/04/review-high-schoolers-tell-truth-and-shame-the-devil-in-john-proctor-is-the-villain/

4 stars from TimeOut

John Proctor Is the Villain

4 out of 5 stars

Sadie Sink stars in Kimberly Belflower's riveting new play.

"John Proctor Is the Villain has had multiple regional productions since its 2022 premiere, but it's hard to imagine a better mounting than its fast-paced and riveting Broadway incarnation, directed with clear-eyed compassion by Danya Taymor (who also directed The Outsiders, and knows her way around adolescent rebellion). Belflower has a supernatural gift for teenage vernacular and pop-culture touchstones, and the pitch-perfect cast makes you believe in these promising young women as they navigate puberty and the pitfalls of the patriarchy. A sign on the classroom wall that says Lightbulb Moments flickers each time the girls are pushed into emotional overload; Natasha Katz's lighting, Palmer Hefferan's sound and Hannah Wasileski's projections combine to illuminate the cacophony inside their heads."

A from Entertainment Weekly

John Proctor Is the Villain review: Sadie Sink leads an incredible cast in brilliant, Crucible-inspired Broadway play

The Danya Taymor-directed play follows a rural high school English class reading "The Crucible" as a series of scandals rock their community.

https://ew.com/john-proctor-is-the-villain-sadie-sink-broadway-play-review-11714446

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Feels like the closest thing to a Best Play contender to come around since OH, MARY."

English also received nearly unanimous raves.

There's so many well-reviewed new plays this year. English, The Hills of California, John Proctor, Oh Mary and Purpose were all very well received and could easily be the five nominees but that's not counting something like Stranger Things or Dorian Gray getting in on the back of its technical achievement (like Harry Potter in 2018)