The Crucible

By: Arthur Miller

Narrated by: Stacy Keach, Richard Dreyfuss, Ed Begley Jr., Hector Elizondo, full cast

Length: 1 hr and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

In the rigid theocracy of Salem, Massachusetts, rumors that women are practicing witchcraft galvanize the town. In a searing portrait of a community engulfed by panic—with ruthless prosecutors, and neighbors eager to testify against neighbor—The Crucible famously mirrors the anti-Communist hysteria that held the United States in its grip in the 1950’s. A Tony Award Winner for Best Play. A BBC and KCRW co-production.

Recorded at Culver Studios, Culver City in March 1988.

Directed by Martin Jenkins.

Producing Director: Susan Albert Loewenberg

An L.A. Theatre Works full cast performance starring:

Irene Aranga as Mercy Lewis

René Auberjonois as Deputy Governor Danforth

Ed Begley Jr. as Thomas Putnam

Georgia Brown as Rebecca Nurse

Jack Coleman as Marshal Herrick

Bud Cort as Ezekiel Cheever

Richard Dreyfuss as Reverend John Hale

Héctor Elizondo as Giles Corey

Judyann Elder as Tituba

Fionnula Flanagan as Elizabeth Proctor

Ann Hearne as Susanna Walcott

Carol Kane as Mary Warren

Stacey Keach as John Proctor

Anna Sophie Loewenberg as Betty Parris

Marian Mercer as Mrs. Ann Putnam

Franklyn Seales as Judge Hathorne

Madolyn Smith as Abigail Williams

Joe Spano as Francis Nurse

Michael York as Reverend Parris

(P)1994 L.A. Theatre Works

Good Performances but not good for reading along

I used this in my English class. There were quite a few lines that are skipped over and it's hard for someone, like my students, to figure out and follow along as they read.

Good performance but be warned

The actors do good work but I have to comment that there’s a point where characters are speaking in low voices and then the girls scream and that killed my ears, could’ve used a better mix there

A great book

A wonderful book that I found to be developmental and maturative for a young man coming of age such as myself. I found this book to be relatable and generally worthwhile to get through. I further highly recommend this book.

Great rendition of Arthur Miller's work.

Madolyn Smith (Abigail Williams) and Stacy Keach (John Proctor) were excellent. Props to Rene Auberjonois (Danforth) too, love his matter-of-fact manner of speech.

Excellent performance

Well worth listening to! A great group of actors telling a powerful story. Highly recommended.

Excellent commentary on abusive power

Though it isn't always easy to understand each word in heated moments of the play, this is a tough, necessary piece to watch or listen to. The terrible, illogical abuse of power in this Salem witch trial is still apropos today as we watch politicians sacrifice people like gays, minorities, and women to make themselves more powerful, more popular with the so called "base." Unfortunately, this play will probably always be apropos given the cowardice of so many people in the face of power. This is also well acted by some of my favorites like Dreyfus.

It was school work but i enjoyed it.

I dont read books often but i would recommend this to someone who does enjoy reading books.

who is who?

it was a bit hard to keep up with the plot because I coudn't remember who was who

Timeless

As long as there are moral entrepreneurs this story will always have something to say.

Many lessons to be learned here.

First Rate Dramatics

Our family listened to "The Crucible" on a car trip. The acting really was wonderful, the sound effects added a lot, but the plot was difficult to follow without the script. I'm sorry it was abridged, as I think it might have been easier to follow if the entire script were included, but for someone wanting to familiarize themself with Miller's story, this is very good.