There were mixed reviews for this this Lyndsey Turner-directed production of Arthur Miller’s drama at London’s National Theatre in September of last year.

“Soggy” opined Variety, in part referring to the drenching stage rain unleashed on the townsfolk of Salem by the celebrated stage designer Es Devlin.

“All beauty and no bite” was the Guardian’s response to what was the NT’s first staging of Arthur Miller’s allegorical drama in 20 years.

Nevertheless, this NT Live capture still makes for a reasonably compelling screen experience, thanks to the exceptional quality of the script, its thematic timelessness and some strong performances. It doesn’t rise to any great cinematic heights (for those you can refer to Nicholas Hytner’s 1996 film starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Rider and Paul Scofield), but what does offer by way of compensation is the opportunity to focus on the Miller’s text and the interplay of his characters and themes.

For students studying The Crucible at any level, this recording is an excellent resource.

Brendan Cowell in The Crucible. Photo © Johan Persson.

Turner’s production dispenses with the strictly puritan look and Mayflower accents we’ve come to associate with the play. Catherine Fay’s costumes...