Theater: “John Proctor is the Real Villain” @ the Booth

Arthur Miller’s play “The Crucible” has been performed continually since the 1950s and it seems like I’ve seen every version—on stage or in the movies. But perhaps none have been quite like Kimberly Bellflower’s new take on the play: “John Proctor is the Real Villain.”

Set in a small-town Georgia HS circa 2018, the play’s female protagonists are fan girls of the charismatic, good-looking young teacher Mr. Smith (Gabriel Ebert in perhaps his best role yet). This is an English Honors class so Smith is leading a discussion of Arthur Miller’s play. In fact, the teacher is so cool and understanding, he offers to be the sponsor of the feminist study group that four of the female students—Raelynn, Ivy, Beth and Nell—are forming.

But there’s trouble ahead. Raelynn (Amalia Yoo) is despondent over having just broken off her relationship with BF Lee (Hagan Oliveras) “We’ve been together since we were 9!” she whines. Further, the group is scandalized when the father of Ivy (Maggie Kuntz) is accused of making inappropriate moves on his secretary.

Into this tight-knit circle, classmate Shelby (Sadie Sink from “Stranger Things”) suddenly arrives with the force of a tornado. She has been unexplainably MIA for the last six months. Even though it’s the guys who’ve been accused of bad behavior, Shelby is the one who has been truly slut-shamed. Her standing is further damaged by the fact that she’s the one who stole Lee from Raelynn.

Back in the classroom, Smith tells his students that the Arthur Miller classic is “a great play about a great hero: John Proctor.” Once the young women start reading it, they beg to differ—especially Shelby who proceeds to knock all the pieces off the 4-D chessboard the teacher has carefully set up.

“Proctor” may send you googling the plot of the original play which you probably last read in high school. But details aside, the witchcraft was a metaphor for the red-baiting hurled at politicians during the era of Senator Joseph McCarthy. But fear not: while the play deals with the serious issues of misogyny and bearing false witness, it tackles the subjects in the guise of a high school comedy.

The energetic ensemble is more than a little wild and crazy. The real standout performer, however, is Sink. I also liked Nihar Duvvuri who plays Mason, the funny but slow-witted kid, perhaps the only sympathetic male character in the play.

Note to fellow theatergoers of a certain age: the dropping of pop-music names such as Lorde and John Mayer may initially make you feel a bit out of it. But part of the charm of the play is that it uses the girls’ familiarity with contemporary music as a means of unifying and empowering them. Who knows, listen closely and you may learn something—and impress your kids with your newfound hipness.

Directed by Dayna Taymor (“The Outsiders” and “Pass Over”), “Proctor” occasionally doubles down on the witch aspect. In one occasion, for instance, Shelby and Raelynn dance as the young girls did in “The Crucible” (except in the classroom, not the woods, and clothed, not naked.)

While serious theatergoers may not agree with one critic’s claim that “Proctor” is the best new play of the season, you may fall under its spell anyway. So go. At the Booth Theater.

Like this review? Follow me at “What Does Aug Think?” at acsntn.substack.com. Thank you!