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The creepy, comedic play will run Nov. 11 – 14
Alexis Mitchell
@alexis_mitch14
The University of Findlay theater department is putting on the play Abigail/1702 on Nov. 11, 12, 13, and 14 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. in the Powell-Grimm Theater located in the Egner Center for performing arts.
This sequel to the Crucible gives a look at Abigail Williams, the girl who was a lead accuser during the witch trials and sent 20 people to their death. She disappeared after the witch trials and is on the run from having accused all these people of being witches. It is now ten years later and she’s been hiding in Boston trying to create a new life for herself, but she can’t seem to leave the past behind.
“We keep having flashbacks that show the events of her life and the events that led her to where she is, and there is a supernatural aspect of it too because in this version it is proposed that perhaps she really did make a deal with the devil in her young life. The devil comes to visit her to demand payment for this agreement that they apparently made,” said Christopher Matsos, assistant professor of theater.
Even though this play is mainly a spooky drama, there is some humor and fun as well.
“Abigail/1702 is definitely a drama. There are some comedic moments throughout but it is a little more in the spirit of Halloween being dark and fairly creepy,” said Tabitha Kittle, one of the main leads in the play and junior theater major.
Matsos elaborates more on all the different aspects of the play.
“It’s a very spooky play in a way, it’s a drama, and there’s romance in it and there’s some really funny parts too but the overall thing is there’s this kind of haunting, spooky thing as she relives the pain of her past that she’s trying to overcome,” Matsos said.
Adding to the “creepy” tone of this play is the special affects used in the play.
“Chris Matsos has added some unique acting elements into the play, and Carl Walling designed the lights, sound effects, and stage – their ideas merged together really bring the creepiness factor into the play, and I’m a junkie for all things creepy,” said Michael Knight, another main lead in the play. (Is Knight a student? Year? Major?)
According to Matsos, one thing that is really exciting about this play is that there is a little bit of community aspect to it, for example there are people in the play that are not just students.
“We gave a lot of opportunities to students but there were a few roles that we couldn’t fill with just the students, so there is a little boy in the show who is nine, and he is from the community and his name is Nolan and he’s just awesome and really adorable and people are going to love him,” Matsos said.
Even though this play is put on as entertainment, there is still somewhat of a truth aspect there that the audience should definitely look for.
“Many of the characters in the show really lived and died and I think many people forget that most of theatre is done in truth even if the story is speculative. We tend to forget that the characters are human just like we are and they felt very real emotions. I hope when people feel the emotions of this play while watching us they remember that a real person felt the same thing 300 years ago,” said Kittle.
