Some of us are at the top of the status food chain, and some at the very bottom. We have weathered the harshest New England Winters, and prospered from the lush times of harvest.įor me, as an actor, it is a unique challenge to really imagine a day in the life of these people, and as actors, to remember our true given circumstances. This is how the community runs and grows. We employ each other, some of us have to be subservient to others, and everyone is dependent on his/her neighbor for survival. We are a people of extreme conviction, not only about what we believe in, but how we live our daily lives. God’s presence is just as palpable as the Devil’s, and anything is a possibility in this brave new world. We know all the dirty secrets of our friends and enemies, and nobody goes to the bathroom without the whole town knowing. We’ve shared juicy, bitchy town gossip with each other. We have taken advantage of and spread lies about the other. We have prayed, sang psalms, and baptized our children together. We have seen children be born and family members die from disease and outside brutality. Some sit back and count their money and climb the social ranks, while others work hard for us.

Some of these people have done back-breaking labor for years with pride, and their friends assist in getting their hands dirty. We knock on each other’s doors, and share stories, and break bread. We see each other every day, morning to night, around the town, in the field, and in the church. The characters in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible are an incredibly tight-knit community. I’ve been having some great conversation with Gary Strong (AKA Papa Putnam) about the dichotomy of our characters as a couple, and it’s brought up a wealth of food for thought about the show.

It sure has been a pleasure working on this amazing and challenging show with this remarkable cast. Just a few weeks away from opening night of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible and B&B Resident Acting Company member Jessi Walters (who is playing Ann Putnam) blogs about the unique challenges and opportunities presented by performing in Miller’s chilling and historically relevant work!

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