Rehearsals under director Richard Wood are in the home straight for Easingwold Players' spring production of Arthur Miller's turbulent American drama The Crucible.

Running at the Galtres Centre, Easingwold, tomorrow until Saturday, Miller's play re-tells the early 17th century story of the Salem witches and was first presented in 1952 at the time of the McCarthy Communist witchhunt.

Its tale of restrictive religious practice, prejudice and destructive lies continues to have contemporary resonance, long after 19 adults were hanged for witchcraft and one man was pressed to death for refusing to plead in the Massachusetts town of Salem in 1692.

Director Wood says: "The electric atmosphere of the play is an inspiring assertion of the individual dissenter, John Procter, against the tyranny of a repressive society. The Crucible is a deeply romantic account of the nobility that we all aspire to and would wish we were capable of achieving in the face of having to make an absolute moral choice; as it were between betraying one friends or one's country."

Jonathan Lewis takes the lead role of John Procter; Samantha McAdoo, Elizabeth Procter; Abby Wright, Abigail; Richard Wood, Paris; Alex Wright, Hale; and Simon Stephens, Danforth, the judge.

Tickets for the 7.30pm performances are on sale at £5 for adults, £3 for children, at Alternatives, in Chapel Street, Easingwold; the Galtres Centre, phone 01347 822472; and on the door.

Updated: 08:56 Tuesday, April 29, 2003