The Crucible: Prop design

Contextual Prop Design

“The Crucible” is set in the late 17th Century Puritan town of Salem, Massachusetts. The prop design should thus reflect the austere living conditions and beliefs of the Puritan community. Functional and minimalistic key objects like the Bible, farming tools, and household items would characterize the set.
Authenticity presents a crucial aspect in prop design. Research into the 17th Century colonial era will give insights into the materials, colors, and styles prevalent, thus adding a layer of realism to the performance. This detail engages the audience deeply in the unfolding drama.

The play’s central object is the crucible, a vessel that heats substances to high temperatures like in metalworking or chemistry. In this context, it symbolizes Salem’s intense situation, the characters’ inner turmoil, and society’s purity test.
“Witch trial” elements hold significance in the prop design. Items like poppets (cloth dolls), ‘spectral evidence’ (items implying witchcraft), and the hangings’ noose emphasize Salem’s pervasive hysteria and paranoia.
How characters use and manipulate props conveys their emotions, beliefs, and motives. Mary Warren’s gift – the poppet, for instance, becomes a tool of terror when found with a needle.

Stark, harsh lighting can be amplified using candles or lanterns, reflective of the era. These lighting props can orchestrate various scene tones – from the secretive, gloomy aspect of witch trials to the truth’s illuminating clarity in dialogues.

Bruce Coughlin, the original prop designer for “The Crucible”, utilized practical items like quills and inkpots, farming tools, basic wooden furniture, and crockery to help the audience grasp the time period’s reality. Such emphasis on simplicity underlines the life of the Puritans.