Summer of Inspiration: Artist Date Week 4
It all started on a weekday morning when I received a notification from Theatr that John Proctor is the Villain tickets were available for $88. It was the lowest ticket price I've ever seen. After months of trying to get Broadway lottery tickets at midnight, I felt like I struck gold.
Of course, I bought the ticket immediately without a second thought.
There were so many rave reviews for the show that I didn't want to get my hopes up, but I knew I had to catch it before Sadie Sink left. It's been a fortnight since I watched the play, and the feeling of awe hasn't left.
Set in a one-stoplight town in Georgia, the play centers on a group of high school students as they learn about the classic play, The Crucible by Arthur Miller, in the wake of the #MeToo movement. If you plan on watching this play, I would recommend stopping here, as I'm diving into the play with spoilers. I also recommend going into the play without much knowledge for the full experience.
The year in which this play is set plays a crucial role in everything that transpires. It's 2018. Women are speaking up about their experiences with sexual harassment. This movement sparked a wildfire, particularly in the entertainment industry, with many high-profile celebrities speaking up. This is a central theme of the play when one of the students, Ivy, in the class is embroiled in a family scandal where her father is accused of sexual harassment by an employee. The girls in class have to reckon with this controversy, thinking back to the many sleepovers at Ivy's, in which her father was "friendly". It was an extremely fascinating exploration into the reaction of 11th graders processing this reality. How do you come to terms that this man you're familiar with is potentially a predator?
Ivy's father's scandal is one aspect of the play, with the central focus being their English class where they're learning about The Crucible. Even though I've never read the play, the writing does a good job of filling in the missing details so you get the gist of it. The class is taught by Carter Smith, whom many of the students admire, even the school's guidance counselor, who admitted having a crush on him when she was younger. Yes, it's a SMALL town.
Mr. Smith is regarded as the "cool teacher". He sponsors the students' feminist club and becomes a source of comfort for students who need a safe space.
At the beginning of Mr Smith's class, we learn that Raelynn's ex-boyfriend, Lee, cheated on her with her best friend, Shelby. After a prolonged absence, with many rumors swirling as to what happened, Shelby returns to school. Tensions rise in the classroom when Shelby returns. Lee desperately wants to get back with Raelynn; however, she is adamant about finding herself beyond their relationship. She is still cold towards Shelby as she processes the betrayal and the heartbreak of her young love.
I loved watching the dynamics between the classmates. They're emotionally intelligent and highly aware of social issues. It was endearing to see them talk about feminism in light of the #MeToo movement, as well as incorporating intersectional feminism in their arguments. Even though they're still learning, it's admirable to witness the breadth of their knowledge and the willingness to learn more. It reminded me of my university days, where these topics were not only encouraged for discussion, but there was an entire syllabus to broaden our perspective on.
Towards the end of the play, we learn the reason behind Shelby's absence. I anticipated it from the beginning of the play, but wish it wasn't the case. Alas, men are generally disappointing.
She was groomed and raped by Mr. Smith.
The class is once again shaken up when they have to reckon with the fact that their favorite teacher is a predator. Shelby and Raelynn were finally able to have a conversation about what transpired, in which they made up and became friends again. The scene where they couldn't stop laughing at the gas station reminded me of how beautiful girlhood is. There was also a scene where the girls in class just started screaming, which was incredibly cathartic to me, because girlhood is difficult! There is so much to contend with as a girl in this patriarchal world.
At the end of the play, the class is set to present their class project. Shelby and Raelynn performed an interpretive dance to Lorde's Green Light that was outlandish but so full of emotion. When Mr. Smith yelled for them to stop, it gave me goosebumps to see the other students jump in to defend the girls, including the guidance counselor, who allowed them to speak their truth.
I don't think my words can sufficiently describe all the emotions I felt.
At some points of the play, I found myself leaning forward to absorb every moment. The dialogue, the characters, the storyline, and the transitions were so full of intention in covering a heavy subject matter with care and nuance. It was gripping to see the students navigate the controversies that are honestly even difficult for adults to take on, what more a 16/17-year-old.
All I can say is that it was a fantastic play that will live with me for a long time. It also inspired me to see how a global social issue movement can be the backdrop of a storyline in a small town setting.
I left the play buzzing with inspiration and energy.
