The Crucible

By Arthur Miller. Directed by Stefan Brand. Willeton Senior High School, WA. May 6-7, 2025

Willeton Senior High School’s Year 12 Production showed not only the talents of the Year 12 Drama Cohort, but the great skills of the Year 11 and 12 Hospitality Students as well as Music Students from throughout the school, in a Dinner Theatre Experience that not only entertained but satisfied the tastebuds as well.

Under the guidance of Hospitality Teachers Bradley Curran and Kristen Gibson, Hospitality Students created and served a delightful canapé trio before the show. The first interval revealed a main course of either Roasted Spiced Chicken Maryland with Potato Gratin (delicious), Vegan Stuffed Roast Pumpkin or Slow Cooked Lamb Shanks with Sweet Potato Mash. Dessert was served during the second interval - either Raspberry Nougat Ice Cream Slice (delightful) or Rich Chocolate Mousse Tartlets.

Music accompaniment while patrons were eating was provided by Music Students - a lovely way to share the breadth of talent within the school.

The cast showed a solid understanding of the text and a good grasp of character. Holly Williams was very strong as catalyst character Abigail Williams, who leads the young women in accusing multiple people of witchcraft. Great support from fellow accusers Betty Parris (Hailey Evil), Mercy Lewis (Advita Surekar) and especially Keeley Murray’s conflicted Mary Warren.

Tom Connolly made an impressive John Proctor, a flawed ‘leading man’ played with depth by this young actor. He worked well with Cayley Mackay as wife Elizabeth, who gave a well layered performance.

Nanziba Anjum brought strength to the poor slave Tituba, longing for her homeland (she shared the role with Sophie Brooks). Sebastian Puchalski made strong character choices that paid off as Giles Corey, with Marcela Clennell nicely playing his wife Martha, among other roles.

Good authority and maturity from those playing those in power, Dylan Adderly as Reverend Hale, Javald Nelson as Reverend Parris, Shannon Smith as Judge Danforth and Romain Suraweera as Judge Hawthorne.

Completing the cast well were Aaron Soo (Francis Nurse), Ashton Lim (Ezekiel Cheever, sharing the role with Jarrah Porter), Lahni Turner as Ann Putnam, Rowan Eddy as Thomas Putnam and Preston Hart as John Herrick.

Some projection could be stronger, always a challenge playing on a thrust stage - and this might be something to work on for those who continue acting beyond school - which I hope that they will. 

Lovely to see a classic play being presented well, and a production evening that was a credit to Willeton SHS.

Kimberley Shaw