Reader Reviews
The Crucible (Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | Fantastic review. - D Lindsey | 06 Sep 10 |
| Finely acted by most of the principals - I felt there could have been more made of Abigail Williams than was shown by the young, obviously inexperienced actress, and that John Dougall as Parris was overacting, sometimes so loudly that we couldn't hear his lines. John Proctor, Hale, and Danforth are all absolutely first-rate - worth the price of the ticket for them alone. The main problem with this production however, is the direction - Mackmin seems to want the play quite wishy-washy. It doesn't start with a bang, and there is no real sense of climax anywhere in the piece; it plods along at the same level throughout. This is poor direction. Similarly, the ending is non-existant - the lights snap off. This play would be far better, more moving and more gripping with more dramatic and theatrical touches; and the production would improve tenfold under a talented director. If Mackmin really is to take over the Crucible from Michael Grandage at the end of this year, then Sheffield's golden age is truly over. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.254.64.6) | 19 Feb 04 |
