The Crucible - Accent changes

When I went to see the 2nd preview of The Crucible I had mixed-to-negative feelings, but decided to give it another chance because my friend from out of town really wanted to see it, and I was curious to see how it had grown. I did enjoy it more the 2nd time, but not very many things had changed as far as I could tell.

There was, however, one huge difference between my 2 viewings: when I saw the 2nd preview, I remember quite distinctly that Ben Whishaw and Sophie Okonedo were using American accents. However, this time they were both using their own British accents. Does anyone know when and why this was changed?

Interestingly, I enjoyed both of their performances significantly more the 2nd time, and I wonder if it had something to do with the accent. I wonder if Whishaw, Okonedo, and Van Hove were feeling like the American accents were distracting them or holding them back in some way. Or was it to make them seem more like outsiders in Salem?

I do wish a bit that they had altered Ronan's accent as well. I actually love her performance as Abigail, but her American accent (if that's even what it is?) is quite bad. To be honest, I can't even say with utter certainty that what she's doing is even supposed to be an American accent. Still, like I said, I think her portrayal of the role is excellent.

IdinaBellFoster said: "When van Hove, Okonedo & Whishaw were on Theatre Talk they spoke about the accent change. It happened sometime in the first couple previews.

Curious what did they say about it. Only saw it once, a couple of weeks ago. LIked it but not enamored. Thought Okonedo was wonderful but the one thing I did not like was her accent, found it distracting. Didn't notice Ben's accent as much. I worked in UK and for Brit company for many years...am quite used to the varying accents. Personally found Okonedo's just grating to my ears.

But see...I'm familiar with Saoirse Ronan's own accent. Having seen several of her movies -- including Brooklyn, twice -- along with more than one interview with her, AND having seen The Crucible twice, I think I can say pretty confidently that she is at least ATTEMPTING an accent. Granted, yes, it comes out sounding Irish a lot, which is exactly the problem. But what she's doing in The Crucible is definitely not entirely her own accent.



Thanks for the tip on Theatre Talk. About to watch it now!

Just watched the TheatreTalk interview. Very interesting. Okonedo says using her own accent added more transparency and made it more natural for her, and I definitely saw that come across the 2nd time I saw it. And according to her, they changed the dialects right after the performance that I attended.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhAwKeT3VMo

Those blackout transitions were awful. They seemed to last an eternity. I thought the whole set was going to change but only a couple of chairs were moved.

Right? Everyone laughed at the first one because it seemed so random. Why not just use a scrim? Would have made some of them less awkward.

And I don't really get why so many earlier posters were confused by the set. It looked like a classroom in a town hall?

Ronan has talked about how her accent in BROOKLYN is not her accent or the accent that someone in her character's region would have. They softened the accent for her to sound clearer to a larger audience. I didn't think she was trying to put on an accent when I saw the show a few weeks ago. She sounded extremely natural and truly I thought it was a masterful performance in par with the beautiful work that Okonedo, Wishaw, Hines, Camp, Gevinson and everyone else is doing. I was happy to see them follow through with the more abstract, non-period specific take on the play. I just loved this production.

The accents in "The Witch," a movie which is basically "The Crucible, but a horror film," have become so strongly ingrained in my head that I can't think of Miller's drama without hearing "I be the witch of the wood!"

And not enough music to cover the set pieces clunking around