Romance, betrayal, execution and witchcraft. Normally these words have nothing to do with one another but when those words are given to the title of “The Crucible,” they make perfect sense. “The Crucible,” the next one act show presented by the theater department, shows on February 15, 16 and 17.

   “We picked ‘The Crucible’ because it is a classic piece of literature written by my favorite playwright, Arthur Miller, and because the English classes are reading it,” theatre teacher Don Johnson said.

   “The Crucible” is about Abigail Williams, a girl who has an affair with a man named John Proctor and believes she is in love with him. She comes up with an idea to kill Proctor’s wife which eventually spirals into the historical event known as the Salem Witch Trials.

   “It shows the story about how an entire community can be destroyed by lies,” sophomore cast member Moroni Lehnardt said.

   This show has characters who are dramatic and build conflict at every turn.

   “It’s a very big drama and you are going to have to pay attention to what people are saying. It’s one of those mystery things where you have to put the pieces together,” senior cast member Josie Wilkerson said. “Abigail’s very manipulative and has things going on behind the scenes so you get to kind of figure out who said what and what’s going on. It’s very much like a mystery because you never know what the girls in the show are going to do next.”

   This show is different from other shows put on by LHS because the set is unlike anything that has been seen before.

   “Every set is different and this one is new for me because it’s very contrasting to others I’ve done before,” junior crew member Chloe Warner said. “Set design like furniture will be at the minimum, as well as the disuse of the rotator and the layering of the stage. The biggest thing about this set is the props and the building itself. Normally the set is huge and expanding out to the audience. This one is stationary, like the minds of the characters in the performance.”

   “The Crucible” has some characters who are relatable and others who may require some figuring out.   

   “The character I play is John Willard. He is the marshall in Salem and has the job of rounding up all the ‘witches,’” Lehnardt said. “I relate to Willard in a way. He does a lot for everyone in Salem but he doesn’t really talk too much. When he’s needed, he’s there and I can definitely relate to that.”

   The cast, crew and directors are all excited for this show to be produced. With new approaches to things like sets and character development, this show has many things to anticipate.

   “People should look forward to the characters and actors themselves displaying such emotions in these trying times,” Warner said.

   “The Crucible” has a plot that is incomparable to other shows that will leave people with their jaws dropping and their minds hanging in shock at what they see on stage.

   “I think the audience should be looking forward to seeing a lot of things they didn’t initially expect,” Wilkerson said. “There is going to be a lot of brutality and not a whole bunch of upholding of lives. It’s very much a drama that is about backstabbing, romance and relationships. It’ll be interesting to see how the characters interact with each other. One character is especially crazy and unpredictable, so people should definitely come out and see it.”

   Johnson agrees.

   “The audience needs to sit back and envelop themselves within the world of the play. The ending, if it goes as planned, will be exceptional,” Johnson said.

   “The Crucible” is performed on February 15, 16 and 17 at 7:00 p.m each night. Tickets are $5.00 for students, children and senior citizens.  Tickets for adults are $10.00. Tickets can be purchased at lunch or at the door.