Armitage fans are speculating that Yael Farber’s production of The Crucible will be in modern dress, based solely on this promotional photo of Richard Armitage as John Proctor. But I’m not so sure. For one, I don’t think the clothing in the photo is that telling. It doesn’t necessarily scream modern dress. A coat and a scarf. So what? Admittedly, I would have expected longer hair, but hair aside ( can we ever put his hair aside?) I think the signs lean more towards something closer to period dress.
One reason is the first poster we were shown. The cap and cape certainly reference puritan dress. But it was also created, at least I think, before Yaël Farber and her team started working on costumes and design.
On the other hand, the RSC 2006 production of the play, done in period dress, used this poster:
( Yup, a favorite side dish, Iain Glen, who got rave reviews for his John Proctor) There you have it. A scarf, paired with a period muslin or linen shirt.
And, based on the costumes for the 2006 version, we came this close to adding an addendum to a certain series on this blog:
Armitage Agonistes 
I don’t know what to think. If the context is modern, than text should have been changed. Instead, we have only Arthur Miller as credited writer. This is the only sure detail we have until now. Just 12 days to wait… (if some fan will be at the very first performance)
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I don’t think the text is going to be changed, at least not much. But directors have ways of modernizing, or changing the sense of time and place in plays through difference devices including how words are said as opposed to what words are said.
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Indeed. More curious then ever.
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Maybe Richard was sick of longer hair lol! Also I’m pretty sure the director would have *some* idea of when she wanted it when the original poster was released
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I agree. There must have been discussion before everything got off the ground.
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If you’ve ever watched Sleepy Hollow with Tom Mison, he wears that exact coat.
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I watched it once. I thought the collar was a little different. But Sleepy Hollow is also a bit later.
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I think it would be difficult to enforce the puritanical based theme addressed in the story with strictly modern dress, unless they painted some kind of futuristic revisit to the biblical, social, and political and restrictions imposed on society at the time. Maybe some audiences might find that confusing. But, they could also be trying to voice the “it could happen even now” warning with a modern take. I do look forward to hearing all about it when the play opens. Really wish I could see it.
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Me too. It has been done in modern dress and in a non specific time period that echoes the period without being spot on. But somehow, I don’t think that’s what’s in store.
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