Salem is a production that attempts to do something dangerous - to perform a piece of theatre about a historical event that has already been covered by a really well-known play. Arthur Miller has monopolised theatrical representations of the Salem Witch Trials for decades, so how does this production compare?Well, not spectacularly. The show has a promising aesthetic - the set is bare but descriptive and the costumes are authentic (besides one man wearing jeans beneath his overcoat) and most of the performances were actually very touching (the three accused women believed to be witches all provide poignant portrayals). However, the actual performance is a massive let-down. The scene changes are long and unnecessary, and yet it is a play that could have been incredibly slick. The use of microphones is inexplicable in such a small venue and merely causes scene changes to be both arduous and loud. There's also a very distinct lack of narrative and the court scenes feel a bit repetitive.Whilst the script was weirdly structured, there were great performances and the director drew out the senses of chaos and confusion present in the trials. It was a piece of good performances, but these were marred by a mediocre production. If you want to see some of the finest actresses I have seen at the Fringe then you should come see the show. But don’t expect the show itself to live up to the performances it contains.
