COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL • JUNE 13, 2018 • 10A
Questions & Answers: with 'Crucible' director Joel Ibanez
Q: How did you get in-
volved with Cottage Th e-
atre?
A: I moved here three
years ago and I just saw
an audition posting for the
show “Spelling Bee” and
have been doing it ever
since.
Q: During the off -sea-
son, directors pitch poten-
tial shows to the Cottage
Th eatre for the following
season. How did you go
about pitching such a clas-
sical play as “Th e Cruci-
ble?” Is there something
diff erent about your pro-
duction?
A: I did “Th e Crucible” in
college and it was one of the
worst plays I’ve ever done in
my entire life and wanted
to redeem it because I love
this script so much. We’re
doing it with a 1960-1970s
hor-ror movie scene. At the
heart of the play it’s really a
drama but we made this set
very dark with a lot of blues
and blacks in the lights and
the painting.
Q: Walk us through the
plot for those who may not
be familiar with the play.
A: It’s essentially about
the Salem Witch Trials it’s
about John Proctor and
Abigail Williams who lived
in Salem. It’s riffi ng on Mc-
Carthyism. Arthur Mill-
er (the playwright) him-
self was called be-fore the
House Un-American Activ-
ities Committee aft er “Th e
Crucible” was written but
several of his friends were
called before it was written
and that’s what inspired
him. It’s PG-13 for sure.
Q: Th e courtroom scene
has become iconic. How
did you handle the staging
of the scene?
A: Th at’s a hard question.
We’re doing the script pret-
ty traditionally. I stuck to
that scene pretty tradition-
ally. It’s incredibly diffi cult
to block because there’s so
many people. Th e Cottage
Th eatre is a great theatre
for that but it’s the whole
cast except for two mem-
bers and they’re on stage
for the entire scene and
sightlines and movement
can get muddy if you’re not
careful. I’ve been blocking
this show since June of last
year.
Q: Th e Crucible was
originally published in the
1950s but its themes of tol-
erance, hysteria, rebel-lion
and faith still ring true and
the play continues to fi nd
an audience today. Why
do you think that is?
A: I think that Arthur
Miller, personally knew
when he wrote the play
that these things were going
to continue to happen all
the time. Th is play happens
in the 1600s and he found
connections in the 1950s.
People are always going to
Elizabeth Proctor (Brittany Dreier), John Proctor (Kory Weimer)during the production of “The Crucible” now playing at Cottage Theatre.
be afraid of each other and
as long as they are, plays
like “Th e Crucible” are go-
ing to be necessary. It’s a
fear of what people are hid-
ing. Th ey’re accusing each
other of witchcraft , com-
munism and maybe today,
terrorism.
Q: What performances
really stand out to you and
what should audiences be
on the lookout for?
A: I blocked the bows to
be one bow because it can’t
function without everyone
in the cast. We have some
Cottage Th eatre veterans in
our cast, some veteran ac-
tors in general. Just be pre-
pared to be a little spooked.
We’ve defi nitely made it a
little more intense.
through June 24. Tickets
range from $15 to $25. For
more information, visit
cottagetheatre.org
Cottage Grove
Sentinel
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“Th e Crucible” is play-
ing at the Cottage Th eatre
Make his fi rst Father’s Day special
D
ads are oft en the fi rst heroes in their young
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Let Dad sleep in. Chances are Dad is enamored with his
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Make a baby keepsake. Use washable ink so
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Go overboard on gift s. Th e idea isn’t to buy Dad’s love, but
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Father’s Day comes once a year. However, a
father’s very fi rst Father’s Day occurs just once. Use the
opportunity to pamper Dad so he can savor this truly special
experience.
Father’s Day@
Celebrate Dad with Northwest brews,
music, and menu specialities.
Case & Buck Knives • Wallets • Hats • Belts & Buckles
Brunch 10 am- 2 pm
Jonathan Warren
and the Billy Goats
8:30pm
The Axe & Fiddle
657 E Main St.
541-942-5942
730 E. Main St. Cottage Grove, Oregon97424