| Reston
Players Take Stage in 'Crucible' |
By Sabrina Enayatulla
Observer Staff Writer |
| It's the second time around for Director Andy Regiec to
grab hold of the reigns on Arthur Miller's "The Crucible."
But 20 years after his first direction of the play as a college
student, Regiec said the script is vastly more applicable
today than it was years ago. |
| "It's not a political statement," Regiec said.
"But the message is so relevant especially during a time
when the use of terror is used to sway people's opinions." |
| Regiec is originally from New Jersey and attended Montclair
State University where he majored in directing and education.
Like the rest of the Reston Community Players, and the actors
and actresses who travel from as far as Maryland to take part
in productions, Regiec is a volunteer. His day job is in the
IT field as a software architect in Reston. |
| "There is a lot of similarity with computers and theater,"
Regiec said. "It's really just about working on project
development and meeting deadlines." |
| In college, Regiec said he was the first student to direct
a play in the university's larger theater, which sat more
than 1,000 people. "I won't be as intimidated this time
around," he said. |
| Regiec's mother who still lives in New Jersey and his brother
who now lives in Ashburn saw Regiec's first direction of the
play and will be in the audience to watch his second go at
the American classic, in Reston when the show opens. |
| "I was almost not interested at first," Regiec
said. "But a story like this stands the test of time." |
| Regiec said although the play is not a historically accurate
depiction of the Salem witch trials, while casting, he tried
to match the age of the characters as closely as possible
to those in Miller's book, without changing the overall mood
of the play. |
| Auditions for "The Crucible" began in October.
About 85 people read selections from the play, but ultimately
only 25 were chosen by Regiec. "It's always great when
you get a cast who is in it for more than because it's just
fun," Regiec said. "I look for people who have a
natural affinity for the role and who really want to take
part in a story like this." |
| Regiec said some of the participants had played other characters
in "The Crucible" in arenas outside of the Reston
Community Players. But for others, the first time on stage
as one of Miller's characters meant the cultivation of a life-long
dream. |
| "I've always wanted to be Abigale," said Heather
Benjamin, who did in fact land the role of Abigale. "I've
just always wanted to do this play." |
| Benjamin is a registration coordinator and travels from
Silver Spring, Md., for rehearsals. Malka Roth, who will play
the character of Mary Lewis, is a junior at McLean High School.
Roth read the play for the first time in her English class
one week before auditions. |
| Bob Ashby will take on the role of Rev. Parris. Ashby, a
lawyer with the U.S. Department of Transportation commutes
from Falls Church to nightly rehearsals. |
| Regiec said most of the actors had qualities that closely
matched the character they will play, but some of the performers
were required to tweak their appearance. Joshua Redford, who
will play John Procter grew a full beard for his role. Redford
is a teacher at Sangster Elementary School in Springfield.
|
| "My students keep telling me to shave," he said
jokingly. |
| Regiec said he is excited for opening night and looks forward
to giving his audience something to think about. Regiec said
he is especially drawn to the story because ultimately, one
character stands up for what's right. |
| "I want people engaged in this play," he said.
"To think about things they don't normally think about
and to talk about what's really going on in the world today.
That's why I do theater. I just want people to get in their
cars and talk about it on their way home." |
