The Crucible - Reading edition

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 2:22am

Does anyone know why Miller chose to publish THE CRUCIBLE with a literary narrative embedded into the script? (Those who have read the play know what I'm talking about.) Why didn't he just publish the play proper, without the prosaic embellishment?

This reminds me of how the reading edition of Williams' THE GLASS MENAGERIE retains his original idea of having projected captions and images, even though the play is rarely ever performed with them.

Updated On: 4/4/05 at 02:22 AM

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 11:24am

BUMP - No self-made dramaturgs can comment on this?

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 8:41pm

One Last bump!

[Crazy4MattMorrison52]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 8:57pm

not answering your question but i just finsihed ready this book and found it so boring. maybe because i was reading it for a 8th grade reading class.

[442namffug]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 9:05pm

I'm playing Proctor in the Crucible now...there is a version that is published without any of the added narration. However, the stuff that WAS added is to help readers understand the history of the play, since they cannot see it being done out in front of them.

As to the play being boring: it might be long to read, but on a stage it is one of the most difficult, angry and intense plays out there. If you get a chance to see a production, do so, because there is SO much energy (i.e. end of Act 2 and most of Act 3)

[Joshua488]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 9:07pm

I absolutely love THE CRUCIBLE. I was just in a production of it; I played Deputy-Governor Danforth. The actor originally playing him dropped out two days before opening night, so I told the director I'd step in. So I learned the part in two days and saved the show! *fanfare* LOL

[GypsyRoseLee]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 9:35pm

It's actors like you, Joshua, that really personify the term, "the show must go on." Good for you!

This is definetly one of my favorite plays! I finished playing Mary Warren about six months ago. One day, I'd really like to play Elizabeth Proctor. That's too bad you didn't like it, Crazy4Matt, give it another chance; see it performed, audition for it...SOMETHING! Sometimes good books can get ruined by a bad english class.

[Sporkie]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 9:46pm

yeah, back when I read The Crucible in eighth grade, it was awesome, because we preformed it. The teacher was as lazy as hck, so he got us to bring in tome props, then eery day at the beginning of class assigned a couple of kids to be the characters and slept through the rest of the class while we had a blast. I loved Miller's chracter descriptions a lot-maybe he wanted to display his amazing talents at describing peopl in un-conversational detail in addition to everything else he could do.

[Crazy4MattMorrison52]

Posted: 4/4/05 at 9:48pm

yeah we perform it once in a while. i do abigails part. but still doesnt make me like it.