Production reviews Arthur Miller's work

Words written more than 50 years ago take on new meaning as Bloomington High School North Theatre and Advanced Theatre Productions present "An Evening with Arthur Miller."\nThe performances, which will be held at 7 p.m. today and Saturday at the high school, feature scenes from Miller's "Death of a Salesman," "The Crucible" and "View from the Bridge."\nMiller, now 89 years old, is known for writing plays with rich characters and a social conscience. Director of Theater at Bloomington North High School Francesca Sobrer said she chose to do scenes by Miller because of his accessibility, depth of character and the social importance of his plays.\n"I think one of the things theatre is about is making statements," Sobrer said. "He does a fabulous job of that."\n"The Crucible" is about the Salem witch trials but has obvious allegories to the search for Communists done by the House Un-American Activities Committee in the 1950s. \n"Most of his plays are a commentary on American Society," said Bloomington North senior Adrienne Thiery.\nSpecifically, "The Crucible" might apply to the search for terrorists in America today, Thiery said.\nMiller's timeless message is one of the reasons his work was picked for performance Sobrer said.\n"It is very timely," Sobrer said.\nSobrer said "The Crucible" speaks to the fear that is put upon us today about things such as Social Security, terrorism and education. Also, it deals with how our culture singles out certain groups to blame for problems.\n"I believe the targets we see today are liberals and gay people," Sobrer said.\nThe production will be performed by Advanced Theatre Productions, the high school's top level acting class.\n"I try to give them as much ownership as is allowed in the school setting," Sobrer said.\nThe production will be the first to take place in the Black Box, a new performance arts theater at the high school, 3901 N. Kinser Pike. The theater is the revamping of an old space, part of the renovations taking place now at the high school. It seats 75 to 100 audience members.\n"It's really exciting," said Deniese Smith, Bloomington North fine arts department chair. "I think it's going to be one of the premier performance spaces for small venues."\nIn the future, the theater department hopes to work with the Bloomington Playwrights Project and other theater groups to get different groups involved with the space, Smith said.\nTickets for "An Evening with Arthur Miller" are $6 at the door.\n-- Contact Staff Writer David Charles at dacharle@indiana.edu.