Cleveland Play House’s ‘Crucible’ a heavyweight contender Bob Abelman Cleveland Jewish News, The News Herald, The Morning Journal Member, International Association of Theatre Critics In 1692, the farmer Giles Corey was accused of witchcraft along with his wife and other townspeople in Salem, Massachusetts. After his arrest, Corey refused to plead guilty to save his life and refused to honor the proceedings by declaring his innocence. And so Corey was subjected to a public pressing, where a board was laid across his naked body and heavy stones were placed upon it to coerce a confession. In a remarkable final act of defiance, the elderly Corey cried out and demanded “more weight.” In the Cleveland Play House’s powerful and thoroughly engaging production of Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” – a production occurring more than 60 years after it was last performed on a CPH stage – it’s as if director Laura Kepley shouted “more weight” to those under her charge in an effort to make this play not only relevant but extremely resonant. For more of this review, go to www.clevelandjewishnews.com/columnists/.