'The Crucible'

University of South Alabama plays a part in the Mobile Opera's upcoming performances of "The Crucible" running at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 20 and 22.

The English-language musical drama features a range of talents that are USA graduates, faculty and students, alongside an array of renowned guest artists completing its large cast.

USA graduates T.J. DeZauche debuts in his first major role as "Ezekiel Cheever," and Lauren Zoghby, former Miss USA, returns to the Mobile stage in the role of "Mary Warren."

Thomas Rowell, a USA faculty member, is directing the chorus and playing "Deputy Reverend Judge Danforth."

The opera is based on Arthur Miller's fictionalized account of the Salem, Mass. witch trials of 1692.

Robert Ward composed the opera in 1961 and a year later, it was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for music. This is the first time the opera is being performed in Mobile.

Jay Lesenger, the artistic director of the Chautauqua Opera, directed the Mobile production, and Jerome Shannon will conduct members of the Mobile Symphony Orchestra. It is co-produced by Chautauqua Opera and Opera Boson whose set designs, scenery and costumes will be used for the show.

Though it is a "modern" opera, many of "The Crucible" cast members describe the score differently than one might describe the stereotypical modern opera; with a dissonant, unharmonious score.

Guest artists making their debut includes Amy Johnson, performing the role of young "Abigail Williams," Elizabeth Bishop as "Elizabeth Proctor," and John Packard as "John Proctor."

"A lot of times with these kind of modern pieces, there's nothing really what you would call singable, where you would leave the theater singing the tune," said Packard. "There are in this, a couple of numbers in fact that are just ravishingly beautiful."

Some of the cast also felt that the music reflected the tension of the dramatic plot.

Essentially, "The Crucible" is the story of the Salem witch trails fueled by the personal motives of the townspeople, specifically, Abigail Williams, who has an affair with John Proctor. Abigail accuses his wife, Elizabeth Proctor, of witchcraft as revenge.

"It's a very powerful score," said DeZauche. "There's a lot of complex harmony and musical construction in that it kind of underplays the complexity of all the dynamics going on in the town."

"The music, more than anything, supports the drama and supports the words," added Zoghby.

Where most operas slow down and suspend time, "The Crucible" happens in "real time."

"It's kind of like you're watching a play, except we happen to be speaking in rhythms and tunes that are very natural," said Johnson. "It takes the emotion and the plot and accelerates it, rather than slowing it down. ... That's one of the really great characteristics of Ward (the composer)."

Despite the many fictional aspects of "The Crucible," it still serves as a view of Puritan life and has some historical elements. For example, many of the names Miller used were the actual names of the Salem residents.

"I think it's wonderful when we have a historic story where we have real people, real names and this is not something somebody came up with," said DeZauche. "You're looking at a historical situation against the social dynamic and you're seeing these people had real lives and they were three dimensional."

For students hoping to attend their first opera, Johnson suggests going to see "The Crucible."

"I think this could be a really interesting first opera because it's kind of non-operatic," she said. "And, it beats the heck out of the Cliff Notes."

At 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 17, there is a sneak preview open dress rehearsal of the show. Admission to the sneak preview is $10. Ticket purchases can be made by phone at 432-6772.