V0L2.N0.29 Miller’s 'The Cruicible’ Termed Poignant Drama By Harry Maussen Os all the shows that I have seen thus far at the Parkway Playhouse, I am sure that "The Crucible " by Arthur Miller is the best. I enjoyed "A Thurber Carni val, " and I loved "1776, " but this is the kind of American play that peels back the layers of history and reveals what is really underneath our surface. We haven't really changed all that much since which is the date of the happenings in the play. "The Crucible, " even though its settings are reminiscent of the late 17th Century, is applicable to us today. The story revolves around' one John Proctor, played superb ly by Greg Fraice (who was John Adams in "1776"), who has be fore the play begins, fallen in love with a serving girl his wife hired. When his wife(Pat Taylor) learns of the liason, she throws the girl (Jennifer - Daffron) out of the house. The village girls led by the serving girl, play at witchcraft, which is a hanging offense in Salem in 1692, and are discover ed. In order to save themselves, the girls and Tituba (Mary Leigh Best), their black serving womaq confess to having "trucked with the devil, " and thus can be sav ed. However, their innocent game becomes frightening when, driven by superstition, the entire town is caught up in "witch-hunt fever. " Spurred on by an un popular minister, portrayed by Michael Lilly (who is absolutely excellent) the town begins to hunt down and condemn even the righteous in the full belief that they are witches. The situation sounds much like the McCarthy trials or the Water gate Hearings. The performances range from the excellent to the pass able. Greg France, as Proctor, Pattie Taylor as Elizabeth, Jennifer Daffon (who might be urged to let a little more of the I Scene From Playhouse Production Os ‘The Crucible’ THE YANCEY JOURNAL strength of her character shine out earlier In the play), Michael Lilly as Rev. Parris, Don Treat as Hawthorne, and all the "little girls" of the town Su Gilden, Brenda Lunsford, Ann L ; on (who is a 19-year old playing a ten year old) are superb. These are some of the best performances I've seen at Parkway in many a year, and all of these people are genuine finds. There are performances which are good, and better than average. There are not many weak performances to mar this show. I would like to point out that in the weak performances it is diction the pronunciation of the words that is at the foundation of the performance. The characters of Giles Corey and Mary Warren are guilty of this offense, which is not worthy of hanging. Director Stan Dean has brought a great deal of fine dir ection to the performances. It is surely a difficult play to direct.* Its tone is hard to sustain, its many subplots harf pay will be $2.07 per hoiifrom state funds and $20.00 pezino nth from local funds. A spetal class to instruct bus driv ers -ill be set up around August 1 f those who do not have a bu Irivers license. although the county does no jwn enough buses at the pre se: time to make a dual system work ideally, it is felt that a modified system can begin now with a bus or two being added each year. (Although the state finances the transportation sys tem, it should be pointed out that the county must buy any new buses that are added. ) ★ ★ ★ School Tears Scheduled Preliminary plans are pro gressing on schedule for con struction of the new high school, according to word from the office of the superintendent of schools. Although actual construc tion will not begin until next spring, the architects have agreed that this building will not be built from the blue print of another school, but will be designed and constructed spe cifically to meet the needs of the people of Yancey County. In order for everyone possi ble to be able to offer ideas on the type structure we will have, bus tours to a number of schools in western North Carolina are being aiTanged for later this month. Visits will be made to schools listed by the State Planning Division as having outstanding facilities. Some small groups will also go to central and eastern North Caro lina for the same purpose. Every interested adult who can make one of the one-day trips on the activity bus should call the Board of Education office (682-6101) and reserve a seat. There will be no ex pense to the individual except his lunch. Husband And Wife Team Asset To Music Program By Carmela Woodruff Musicians Frank and Eva Ell contribute to the growing success of Music in trie Moun tains. The highly gifted Frank Ell serves in a dual role as music director and clarinetist. Eva, his talented and charming wife, is a cellist. Despite his youth, Mr. Ell has an imposing background, bringing a wealth of experience and deeply developed talent to the festival. Bom in Kalamazoo, Mich., he was deflected from his original preference, the trumpet, because his school, the Kalamazoo Conservatory, needed clarinetists. Accordingly, he changed instruments, to become eventually one of America's out- , standing clarinetists. Years of intensive study followed. Ell attributes some of the mastery of his technique , to his studies with Anthony Gig liotti, first clarinetist with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Subse quently, Ell performed with the Interlochen Arts Woodwind Quintet in every major Ameri can city. For a time , he taught music. ’ Awarded a Fulbright scholar ship, he pursued his studies in Amsterdam, Holland. Follow ing a tour with the Netherlands Wood Ensemble, he achieved the enviable post of solo clari netist with the Rotterdam Sym phony Orchestra. For Eva Schafer, a minis ters daughter, the organ was a natural choice, but she soon found the cello to be her best medium. The future Mrs. Ell was bom in East German/, where she studied at the Univer sity in West Berlin. She perform ed both as a soloist and in en sembles with the Berlin Cham ber Music Orchestra and per formed in numerous concerts and festivals, occasionally in other European countries. She too engaged in teaching. Eva and Frank met while performing in the Rotterdam Symphony Orchestra. The next few years, their lives were para llel, traveling and performing in jk BapHMIS Cellist, Eva Ell im ' ' Director Frank Ell the larger European cities. Fol lowing their acclaim in Europe, they continued their careers in the United States, but first they were wed in Frank's home city four yea: ‘ ago. A heavy schedule ensued for the Ells. Eva was initially a member of the New Jersey Sym phony and the New York String Sextet. Frank is artist in resi dence at the University of Dela ware. The two Ells performed with the City Center Opera, the (cont'd on page 2) Memorial Established Friends of Rodney M. Styles have established a memorial through the North Carolina Wildlife Commission, in his name. Rodney loved the western North Carolina mountains and the opportunities which he had to come back to enjoy hunting and fishing. Employees of the shipyard where he was employed, speci fied that their donations be used for this type of memorial. The North Carolina Wildlife Commission has stated that any funds which they receive, will be used in or near Yancey Co.