During the climatic moments of The Crucible at the Old Vic last night (July 3), an audience member committed the cardinal theatre sin of not turning their phone on silent, allowing a cacophony of chirps to ring out. Irritating, of course, but oddly in this case it was an almost reassuring reminder that there was a world outside this insane one we'd been in for almost four hours.

Staged in the round with minimal scenery, and with ingenious use of lighting, sound, smells and swilling dust manipulating all the senses, The Crucible totally sucks you in and makes you experience the fear that fuelled the Salem witch trials in the 1600s.

Johan Persson



The outstanding cast totally give themselves to playwright Arthur Miller's text, appearing genuinely maddened, furious and frightened as their alter egos desperately try to rid themselves of a wicked that they have conjured. The ensemble surrender their bodies too, contorting themselves into hideously violent shapes when 'possessed' and never bracing as they are slammed across the stage by others.

Of the cast, the biggest draw to non-theatregoers is The Hobbit, Spooks and Strike Back actor Richard Armitage, who plays John Proctor, a good, but fallible man with a level head in a time of madness.

Johan Persson



For John, Armitage makes his voice subterranean and uses it, all of it (flecks of saliva shoot across the stage) to defend himself, ultimately to no avail.

Physically, John is an imposing presence, but he is gradually chipped away at and broken down. Armitage makes him appear constantly exhausted by the accusations thrown at him and the people around him, even before he gets dragged into the trials.

Eventually his body is weakened too, and when John makes a reappearance in The Crucible's dying moments, the change is striking. It's a triumph in make-up, costume and performance on Armitage's part that the sight of him makes you feel pained.

Johan Persson



But it is here, when John is at his most feeble that he finally finds strength. His last stand is incredibly rousing, and cements just how good Armitage is at appearing inwardly bold when hunched or brittle when tall.

Other standout cast members include newcomer Samantha Colley, terrifically unsettling as poisionous accuser Abigail Williams, and William Gaunt as farmer Giles Corey, a sweet, sheepdog of a man who starts off as the comic relief and then breaks your heart.

Johan Persson



Aside from the bumbling bits of dialogue provided by Giles, there are a few more moments of black comedy in The Crucible when you find yourself having to scoff at the absurdity of the trials. However, for the most part, the play is a tragedy, with some characters finding themselves powerless to fight hysteria and others being corroded by doubt and remorse. It's heavy-going, but thrilling.

You really feel the desperation of the time and, like the characters, you will not be able to unknot yourself for the entirety of its mammoth run. Quite simply, The Crucible gets a stranglehold on your nerves and doesn't let go.

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