We have been considering producing THE CRUCIBLE. In fact, we've considered it a number of times over the last 20 years. It's a rough play. Witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts in the mid-1600s. Arthur Miller wrote it as something of a response to the McCarthy "witch hunt" of the 1950s. Root out the communists. I'm currently reading Barbara Kingsolver's latest book THE LACUNA. It deals, in part, with a writer who becomes the object of suspicion during the McCarthy era. It's frightening, frustrating, haunting...
I mention this because OVER THE TAVERN deals with this. It takes place in the 50s, but rather than even mentioning the McCarthy proceedings, it deals with the questioning of the Catholic Church. Young Rudy has some serious and, in my mind, very legitimate questions. As a father I am more and more reminded that any question is legitimate if asked sincerely; but the questioning becomes a problem in OTT--as in the McCarthy hunt-- when that governing body, whether it is political or religious, is afraid of self-examination. As a potential member of the Catholic Church--Rudy is preparing for confirmation--he ought to scrutinize and examine and question before he jumps in feet first. As Americans, don't we have an obligation to question and examine and scrutinize our government without fear of being labeled Communist--or worse: anti-American? During the McCarthy era, reason seemed to hide in a closet (we know all about J. Edgar Hoover's closet) while unbridled paranoia took over.
THE LACUNA is a terrific read, but as the story progresses (I'm not through with it yet) it becomes more and more horrific as the fear of those in authority--THEIR own fear, not fear OF them--colors thoughts of the public and ruins lives. OVER THE TAVERN is comedy--it really is VERY funny--but under or over it all hovers this truth of Rudy's exploration. As we progress into our Presidential race, it's a timely reminder. The press in the McCarthy age fueled the flames of fear and unreasonableness...we would do well to remember this as we read and listen to 24-hour news coverage. Regardless of my individual views of the Roman Catholic Church, I cheer Rudy in his honest search for truth. I cheer institutions--religious or political--which also welcome that honest search.
Perhaps it's time for us to produce THE CRUCIBLE. In the meantime, I'm going to laugh with OTT.
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