I will be directing a scene from Act 3, of the play 'The Crucible' by Arthur Miller.

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                                             The Crucible - Arthur Miller

Hello, my name is ...................................., and today I will be directing a scene from Act 3, of the play 'The Crucible' by Arthur Miller. Act 3 is probably the most interesting and important acts of the play, and I'm looking forward to writing it in the way I perceive it. The scene I've chosen is from when the girls enter the court room, to when Proctor says he beleives Abigail a murderer. I feel this scene is full of tension, and many different twists which will make it fun to plan and direct.

       The scene starts with Cheever entering the court with Sussanna Walcott, Mercy Lewis, Betty Parris and Abigail Williams. They are wearing dark grey dresses, slightly worn, with white aprons and hats. This is to show how Puritan ways were, as they beleived in wearing dull colurs to show their loyalty to God, and to show that they will not 'party' as they did not like anything 'out of the ordinary' and didn't even celebrate Christmas. The girls look solemn, and look very much like 'children'. They will walk in with slight puzzlement on their faces to show they do not know why they have been summoned, but Abigails face will twitch slightly when she sees Proctor. Abigail loves Proctor, and wonders why he is here. She had once said to him 'John - I am waitin' for you every night' meaning she desires him, and wishes him no harm.

       The first line is said by Cheever. 'Ruth Putnam's not in the court, sir, nor the other children' he says as he wzlks up to Danforth, leaving the girls behind him. He doesn't want to be near the girls,as everyone, including him, fear them. They have power, and can accuse him of being involved in witchcraft if he does anything they do not like.

       Danforth then walks up to them, and instructs them to 'sit  you down children.' He has a sense of authority in his voice and says 'children' because they are very precious and pure to him, but as we've seen in Act 1, Abigail is not a child. She resents it when people call her that, especially Proctor, and replies 'how do you call me a child' showing her anger and frustration of the label. However, Abigail will sit down as commanded and will not flinch because Danforth is of high superior, and holds her life in his hands. The girls sit on the left side of the room, furthest from the door, so that the other characters have space to move around.

       Danforth is a calm man and very religous and only seeks the truth. As he sees the girls as children, he talks to them like children. He has no fierceness in his voice and simply tells them about Mary Warren's confession and asks them ' if she speaks true, I bid you drop now your guile and confess your pretence,' then asks Abigail Williams to 'rise.' She rises slowly, looking straight at Danforth only, and looking into his eyes to show no fear. As she does this, everyone is staring at her. Mary Warren is clinging onto Proctor, holding back fearful sobs, and everyone is sitting or standing very rigid to show their tension.

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       The girls all look up to Abigail, and do not blink. This makes them look innocent, and makes them look upset that Danforth is questioning their 'leader.' This also shows their fear that she may crack, but deep inside they know she won't, because they know of her power and strongness. We see in Act 1 when Abigail threatens the girls by saying 'And mark this. Let either of you breathe a word...I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you' they know she will never reveal the truth, and will kill if any of them ...

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