The Crucible, Part 2

crucible
— n
1.	a vessel in which substances are heated to high temperatures
2.	the hearth at the bottom of a metallurgical furnace in which the metal collects
3.	a severe trial or test

When we decided to do The Crucible, we knew it would be tough.  Some people, when I told them we would be doing it, gave me that look that said, "Teenagers doing The Crucible? What are you, nuts?" I was told that teens couldn't handle it, but I knew my kids.  They are talented, brilliant, mature kids who can do anything they set their mind to.  They could do it and do it well.

And they did. In a most spectacular fashion. They put their audience through the wringer in a grim, emotional roller coaster ride.  How many high school plays have you been to that brought you to tears? The audience reception was phenomenal, and I am incredibly pleased with my cast and crew.

However.  Yes, there is a "however." After last night, I begin to wonder if teens really can handle The Crucible.  On one hand, a lot of teen actors just can't do the material justice.  On the other hand, the kids who can do it justice may not be able to deal with the emotions they must dredge up.  Yesterday afternoon, we (the advanced theatre kids) were at a theater conference at UTEP.  It was quite informative.  At the acting workshop, one of the things the professor told them was to bring themselves to their performances.  My kids seemed to take this to heart, and while it would be great for something like "Barefoot in the Park", for The Crucible, it was devastating.

I have never seen so many tears, so many emotional meltdowns, so much anger, bewilderment, and frustration during a show.  Sure, these things happen during every show, but not on the scale it did last night.  All of the principals were in tears at one point or another, and over small things, things that would not normally have had them sobbing in the dressing room, or getting hysterical outside it.  But the amount of emotional fireworks backstage was directly proportional to the amount of raw emotion brought to the stage itself.  And that's why last night was so good.

But it's a double-edged sword.  In order to bring the intensity needed to give a good show, emotions must be brought to the surface, and they sit there, raw and open, making the owner wince at every touch.  One cannot keep up that kind of intensity for very long without feeling the devastating effects.

So can teenagers handle The Crucible? Are they emotionally mature enough to effectively deal with the emotions that they will evoke?  I wonder, and I worry - have I scarred them for life?!?!  Ok, that's The Crucible talking, but I think you get my point.

Every fire, no matter how hot, must burn down to ashes at some point.  Last night's performance was exceptionally hot.  I fear that they have burned themselves out and that they cannot do that again.  Worse, though, is that I think they shouldn't do it again. I just don't like seeing my kids dealing with that much emotional trauma.