Most know that Arthur Miller's 1953 drama The Crucible not only dramatizes the anti-witch hysteria in Salem, Mass., in 1692, but also comments on the anti-Communist movement of the 1950s. What's surprising, on revisiting the play in People's Light & Theatre Company's handsome revival, is how much Miller's eloquent ideas apply to today's America.

SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES: Benjamin Lloyd (center) plays Rev. Hale in the ever-relevant The Crucible.

"Those who are not with this court," imperious Judge Danforth proclaims, "are against it." A minister flits behind him, accusing farmer John Proctor and his friends of plotting to overthrow the court for daring to question it. Danforth later utters, with no trace of irony, when confronted with the certainty that none of Salem's condemned are actually witches, "I cannot pardon these when 12 have already hanged for the same crime."

Connecting the dots is, sadly, all too easy.

Director David Bradley appropriately makes no effort to highlight this connection. The set's austerity—a skeletal structure of thick beams, rough planks and handmade furniture, surrounded by branchless trees, by James F. Pyne Jr.—is matched by Dennis Parichy's stark, streaked lighting and Marla J. Jurglanis' Puritan costumes. The church men's long hair seems both pious and vain.

Christopher Patrick Mullen's Proctor is not a heroic leading man—a familiar mistake—but a surly curmudgeon. He struggles to make amends with wife Elizabeth (Susan McKey) for bedding former servant Abigail (Julianna Zinkel). After Abigail and friends conjure spirits with Tituba (Lenny Daniels), a slave from Barbados, the girls deflect punishment by accusing townspeople of witchcraft. "The voice of heaven," the prosecutors believe, "speaks through the children."

Soon 39 are jailed; when Elizabeth is taken, Proctor must reveal not only the girls' deception, but his own transgression.

A strong supporting cast brings this "silly season" to life. Peter DeLaurier plays divisive Reverend Parris, Tom Teti is gruff Giles Corey, Benjamin Lloyd is equivocating scholar Reverend Hale and Ceal Phelan shines as dignified Rebecca Nurse. Graham Smith can't help but make Danforth a villain, but his machinations—like Judge Hathorne's (Stephen Novelli)—are more bureaucratic than demonic. Mark Lazar, Marcia Saunders, Jeb Kreager and Robert Toperzer play villagers, and Claire Inie-Richards, Anne Berkowitz and Kimberly Carson are Abigail's co-conspirators.

Few area companies have the means and the desire to mount such a responsible and respectful revival, making this a rare opportunity to appreciate The Crucible's timeliness.

THE CRUCIBLE

Through April 9, People's Light & Theatre Company, 39 Conestoga Rd., Malvern, 610-644-3500 or www.peopleslight.org