When a class of students meets to study The Crucible, the play takes on a radical new interpretation and some small town secrets begin to surface. Kimberly Belflower has crafted a work that updates Arthur Miller’s allegory, in which the Salem witch trials prefigure 1950s America’s obsession with communism and Joseph McCarthy’s Red Scare, a period that smeared the reputations of many innocent people. Set in 2018, at the height of the #MeToo movement, John Proctor is the Villain explores sexual exploitation and the challenge of persuading others to believe what cannot easily be proven when the powers that be are not on side. While Miller’s commentary focused on mob hysteria, which reinforced the prevailing orthodoxy, Belflower examines the other side of the question. How do the voiceless assert themselves in the face of entrenched authority? Dónal Finn is utterly compelling as the cool young English teacher Mr Smith, who draws the best from his class. It is a performance that will resonate with anyone who has had a favourite teacher, a mentor who was also effortlessly in touch with the students. Playing Shelby, Sadie Soverall is equally impressive as the student who knows she has been abused but who is unsure how to confront the situation. Her adolescent anger, neediness and vulnerability are all conveyed with precision. As Shelby’s best friend Raelynn, Miya James is equally effective, perfectly capturing her sense of betrayal and her divided loyalties after Shelby’s involvement with her boyfriend, Lee. The remainder of the class is clearly drawn, though less richly nuanced. Holly Howden Gilchrist is hilarious as the overachieving Beth, who founds a feminist club, while Lauryn Ajufo gives a strong performance as Nell, an outsider who has transferred from Atlanta to the small-town school. She neatly brings the outsider's view to the upcoming events. Clare Hughes does a fine job as Ivy, whose father has been exposed within the community for having an affair and whose dilemma sets the community standard for dealing with issues of sexual impropriety. The two male students in the class, the controlling chauvinist Lee and the well-meaning but obtuse Mason, who joins the feminist club for extra credit, are convincingly created by Charlie Borg and Reece Brook, though the roles themselves feel somewhat stereotypical. John Proctor is the Villain is an ambitious, intellectually engaging play. Playwright Belflower establishes its contemporary setting with assurance and draws inventive parallels such as that between Lorde's song "Green Light" and Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. This Royal Court production is theatre that current audiences need to see, and this play is one that future generations may end up studying.
Rated: ★★★★★
Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Camilla Greenwell
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