Waubonsie Valley High School presents 'The Crucible'

When English teacher David Calvert looked over scripts for Waubonsie Valley High School's fall production, he kept coming back to Arthur Miller's "The Crucible."

"I chose it because the writing is so dynamic and because of the strong character development," Calvert said.

Calvert added that the name recognition attached to Miller's works goes a long way toward filling seats.

"We're trying to increase our audience base," he said.

Waubonsie Valley students will present their rendering of Miller's theater classic with four weekend performances.

The story, based on the 1690s Salem witch trials, concerns a clique of girls making accusations of witchcraft against their fellow townspeople. When the scandal is aired in court, judgments are made, lives are shattered, secrets are revealed and hypocrisy runs rampant.

Along the way, the audience becomes intimately acquainted with several multi-layered characters.

"With Arthur Miller, there are no holes. He does an incredible job of creating the great depth of the characters," Calvert said.

Calvert said he also likes that the play includes several strong roles for women.

The ringleader of the accusatory girls is Abigail Williams, portrayed by senior Amy Berger.

"She's just too crazy," Berger said. "She's so complex, she's very manipulative. "

Berger said Abigail often exhibits extremes in behavior. It's at once challenging and satisfying, as an actress, to accomplish the almost instantaneous change from one extreme to another, she said.

"It's really interesting to see the change," she said. "As soon as the adults leave the room, she does a 180. I'm absolutely loving this part. There's no limit to it. She's really insane."

Junior Patrick Styer, in his first lead role, plays John Proctor, a farmer whose life and family are radically altered by the witch trials. Proctor's involvement in the trials begins early in the story.

"He gets called in to lend support to his friends whose wives have been accused," Styer said.

A proud, strong man, Proctor is fiercely protective of his family. But he is flawed. The trial brings Proctor's inner rage to the surface, Styer said.

"He has some anger problems and he lets that out a lot," he said. "He's a very physical man. He will get in your face and you will have no doubt to what he feels."

Styer said he is playing against type, in this case.

"I don't raise my voice a whole lot," he said. "When I step on stage and into character, I really do have to forget who I am."

Styer said rehearsals are the key to his transformation.

"As soon as you find it, you can slip easily into that space," he said.

If you go

What: Arthur Miller's "The Crucible," staged by Waubonsie Valley High School students

When: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30, 31 and Nov. 1; 2 p.m. Nov. 2

Where: Waubonsie Valley High School main auditorium, 2590 Ogden Ave., Aurora

Tickets: $6 for adults, $5 for students

Info: (630) 375-3300

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