KEY POINTS:
The Crucible
Theatre Company's 22-cast production of Arthur Miller's most popular play offers the vision and textures of Shakespearean drama. Depicting the 17th-century Salem witch trials, and transposing the story to a 1950s-style religious community, its power is in the thrilling dynamics of the historical story, outlined with great clarity in artistic director Colin McColl's sensitive staging.
The spectacle of an obsessively regulated society that turns neighbour on neighbour and child against parent had me thinking about the zealotry of a government that legislates on how its citizens should raise their own children.
Among the many fine performances are Raymond Hawthorne, Ray Henwood, Roy Ward, George Henare, Elizabeth McRae - and Ellen Simpson, whose character Abigail lets loose the malicious unravelling.
- Paul Simei-Barton
Venue: Maidment Theatre Season ends: July 28
On the web: www.maidment.auckland.ac.nz
Phone: 308 2383
Others
Lobby Hero
Silo Theatre, Lower Greys Ave, to Jul 21, tickets at Ticketmaster
Decadence
Maidment Studio, 8 Alfred St, to Jul 21, ph 308 2383
Pippi Longstocking
The PumpHouse, Takapuna, to Jul 27, ph 489 8360
Raising the Roof
Centrestage Theatre, Orewa, Jul 13-14, ph (09) 426 7282
Bespoke
Off Broadway Papakura, Jul 19-Aug 4, ph (09) 298 5280
Three Days of Rain
Silo Theatre, Lower Greys Ave, Jul 28-Aug 25, tickets at Ticketmaster
Daughters of Heaven
Rose Centre, Belmont, Jul 28-Aug 11, ph 445 6447
Who Wants to be 100? Anyone Who's 99
SkyCity Theatre, Hobson St, Aug 3-4, tickets at Ticketek
King Lear
ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre, Aug 18-25, tickets at Ticketek
The Seagull
Aotea Centre, Aug 19-26, tickets at Ticketek
The Pillowman
Maidment Theatre, 8 Alfred St, Aug 23-Sep 13, ph 308 2383
The Real Thing
Silo Theatre, Lower Greys Ave, Aug 31-Sep 29, tickets at Ticketmaster
