STERLING — Witchcraft, hysteria, betrayal, adultery, and high emotion all combine in Arthur Miller’s classic play “The Crucible.” Sterling College Theatre will be staging “The Crucible” this week at 7:30 p.m. today, Friday, and Saturday, Nov. 16, 17, and 18 in Culbertson Auditorium on the campus. 

Set against the historic true events of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, Miller’s play has captivated audiences and students for 70 years. It is a revered classic, one of the top studied pieces of American literature in the classroom, and one of the most often produced plays onstage. This marks Sterling College’s third production of the show. 

In the tight-knit Puritan town of Salem, Mass., a group of girls are discovered dancing in the woods and then immediately fall ill. When no earthly cause can be identified, fear and suspicion begin to percolate in the small, isolated community, that something larger, more fearsome, and other worldly may be to blame. Buried secrets and resentments are brought to light and attempts to root out evil lead to finger-pointing, treachery, and betrayal. 

“When everyone is a suspect, sometimes the most dangerous threat to the community may be the community itself,” said the show’s director Dennis Dutton.

Sterling College senior Cate Gutteridge, Norman, Okla., is playing Abigail Williams, the chief agitator of the accusations. Although it is set during the Salem Witch Trials, Miller wrote it during the McCarthy Era when communists or anyone who had connections with communists were blacklisted from work. The message can be applied to past and present history, and anyone can learn from it no matter their beliefs,” she said.  

Miller researched the actual transcripts of the historic witch trials and found the impetus of what would become his world-famous drama. All the characters in the play are based on historic people Miller found in his research. Abigail Williams had been a serving girl to John and Elizabeth Proctor. The various farmers, judges and townspeople were all part of the hysteria which resulted in 19 people being executed.

Tickets to “The Crucible” are $10 for adults and $5 for students and are available online at www.sterling.edu/arts or at the door before each performance. 

Senior Katie Lumbert, Rose Hill, is playing Elizabeth Proctor. She said, “Remembering that ‘The Crucible’ is based on a true story and that I have the opportunity to do justice to a woman who really lived more than 300 years ago has meant a lot to me.” 

Lumbert recalls sobbing by the time she finished reading “The Crucible” for the first time.

“I love art that makes me think deeply about how I’m living. Art that makes me question my life decisions and think about what means the most to me. I’m excited for audiences to hopefully have that experience through this work,” she said. 

Gutteridge adds, “This story has a way of tugging at your heart strings and your conscience. It makes you want to be a better person. The message of the story is about standing your ground on your beliefs and for what you believe is true and good and not giving into the opinions of others. It’s about going against the status quo.” 

“The show says a lot about sticking to your convictions. It begs audience members to take stock of their realities and ask questions like, ‘Are there parts of my life where I simply agree with everyone because it’s convenient?’ or ‘What do I believe is worth dying for?’” said Lumbert. 

Gutteridge and Lumbert along with Sterling senior Luke Harding who plays John Proctor lead the 23-person cast.

“I am excited to give the audience a story they will never forget,” Gutteridge said.