Last weekend, I was invited to a media performance of Abigail/1702. I took a friend and made a Mom's Night Out of it, because this play, while wonderful, is absolutely not for children.
Here's the summary provided by Aurora.
Filled with breathlessness and drama, Abigail/1702 is set to bring a vivid and haunting narrative to the Aurora Theatre main stage from September 21 – October 15. Ten years after the infamous Salem witch trials, The Crucible’s notorious yong accuser seeks a new life in Boston, hoping to leave the terrors of the past behind. As she will discover, forgiveness is often difficult and may come at an unthinkable price.
Atlanta favorite Diany Rodriguez, from familiar performances in Into The Woodsand In The Heights, will return to Aurora Theatre to play the title role. The powerhouse ensemble includes a bevy of actors making their Aurora Theatre debut including Atlanta favorites Lee Osorio and Peter Hardy, founding artistic director of the essential theatre. The line-up also features Olivia Dawson, who returns to Atlanta after having worked in regional theaters from Los Angeles, Portland, Milwaukee, Chicago and television appearances on Empire, Chicago Med and The Quad. The show will also introduce Joshua Pagan as Little Boy.
My take:
The theater itself was beautiful and a great size. I was third row from the back and still had great visibility to the stage. Themed adult beverages were on the menu, and the staff was very helpful in locating our seats. The acting was fantastic, the rotating stage was a nice touch, and the sound effects were super creepy. The play itself was great, though I do think invoking the Crucible is a bit of a misnomer given the supernatural elements within the play, but "a play speculating on the fate of Abigail Williams after the events of the Salem Witch Trials," doesn't role off the tongue quite as easily.
If you've got a sitter and enjoy spooky plays and phenomenal acting, buy tickets fast, because they are close to selling out. Can't swing a kids free night but still enjoy theater? Check out The Aurora Children's Theater showings on Saturdays at 10:00 and 11:30 AM. September 30th, they'll have The Reptile Wrangler Show; October 7th, they'll have Sing, Dream, and Lead like a Princess; and on October 14th, they're offering a Halloween Magic Show. You can learn more about prices and showtimes on The Aurora Theater website.
