The Trials, based on The Crucible by Arthur Miller and preformed by Hillcrest High school.
Hillcrest High School presents a 2009 year 13 drama production of The Trials, based on The Crucible by Arthur Miller. This production is based on the actual events that, in 1692, led to the Salem Witch Trials, a series of hearings before local magistrates to prosecute over 150 people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. In 1692 a witch-hunting fury swept many of the small, isolated communities in the New World, with Salem in Massachusetts being the most intensely affected. The Trials show how the nightmare gathered force until innocent and once respected citizens were tried and hanged for crimes they had not committed. Although based very closely on historical records, it has many lessons for our own time.
Shiro Binks the Director of The Trials thinks that The Trials is a meaty play for the students to perform. She is looking forward to the joys of acting in traverse, where the audience is on two sides of the stage. She is very excited to be working with this bunch of students. She says that The Trials “should be good” and that she gives the production a “quadruple thumbs up”.
Briana Christey who plays Elizabeth in The Trials thinks that the audience will be drawn to her character for her good morals. She believes that The Trials will be a highly memorable play. She says that The Trials was “not made to entertain”, meaning that it’s “not a comedy” She believes that we can learn from plays such as The Trials how to prevent history from repeating, and how it came about in the first place.
Samara Roberts-Thompson who plays Mary Warren thinks that her character is easily manipulated and because of that is scared most of the time. She tries to do what is right, but gets scared into “capitulating”. She says that it’s really cool because she gets “to spend the whole play crying”. She believes that The Trials shows what happens when people point the finger at others and cause mass hysteria among the people.
Nisha Erin Appanna who plays Betty thinks her character is a” young silly little girl”, who likes to whine a lot. “She likes being the centre of attention.” She likes how the play conflicts and differs to our society and how it shows what it was like back then.
Mhairi Hayworth who plays Abigail believes that her character has 3 sides to her, and that she shows a different face to different people. She has the ability to change from one face to another quickly. Her faces are a façade to her true nature. Her three sides are evil, innocent and flirtatious. She thinks that The Trials is a really, really cool play, which will send chills down the audiences spines. She also states that “Mrs Binks is the greatest director ever.”
The performances start on Tuesday the 18th of August and the last night is on Friday the 21st of August, and are being held in the auditorium. Tickets cost $5 for students and $8 for adults and are available from the school office. Door sales are also available, but not guaranteed. Get in quick for a wonderful time.
