John Proctor is the Villain – 03 May 2025

John Proctor is the Villain examines the shifting perceptions of the status quo and radical redefinitions of feminism in a small town in Georgia in 2018. Profoundly affected by the “Me Too”  movement, high school juniors grapple with finding their own identities and beliefs as who is worthy of trust shifts among and beyond them. Heavily colored by a battle between wanting to know the truth, even if it destabilizes your world, or enjoying the comfort of lies that keep you liked, these classmates go on a journey that juxtaposes clearcut academic research methods and hearsay in their community. When a favorite teacher, Mr. Smith (Gabriel Ebert)’s credibility is questioned by a student, Shelby (Sadie Sink)’s accusations of rape/sexual assault, everyone struggles to decide what they want to believe, if they want to seek the actual truth, and, if so, which sources to trust.

In the academic sphere, Beth (Fina Strazza) excels at research. A self-professed “old soul“, she has a friendship with Mr. Smith, one which seems to have never crossed a line she would deem inappropriate, though others feel differently when they find out she regularly texts her teacher. Beth is the most awkward of the girls, and even though she is very well liked and universally accepted among her peers, her primary concerns are her future and what her adult life will be like. She chooses to do no research on Mr. Smith. Her unflappable integrity bends for her (perceived) friend. Raelynn (Amalia Yoo) does a similar take-it-on-faith gesture because Shelby is her “ride or die” best friend. She chooses to believe Shelby unconditionally. This gesture is repeated by Ivy (Maggie Kuntz) regarding similar accusations coming to light about her father.

These students, spearheaded by Beth, profess to be feminists. They are members of a feminist club, which they repeatedly state is about believing women. The lesson that these young students tragically failed to learn is that having a belief, especially one built on emotions alone, does not equate to having the facts. There is a character with the facts, and it’s school counselor Bailey Gallagher (Molly Griggs). Originally introduced as an unlikable foil to Mr. Smith, Miss Gallagher does the research and finds other instances of Mr. Smith’s sexual misconduct. Though she doesn’t share that information with the students, her transformation from fear of starting a feminist club to unwavering solidarity for the students makes her the unsung pivotal character of the show. When she steps between Mr. Smith and the students in the middle of an interpretive assignment turned celebratory lip sync, she sends a clear message, kind of liked the hero version of John Proctor, who gets bashed this whole play. Her assertion means that she wants to keep her good name and stand for truth, consequences be damned.

John Proctor is the Villain is a beautiful show with the moving ending. It is hopeful that, in a world where the story continues, the students will learn from Miss Gallagher about how to identify and handle a villain: not with allegories or mission statements, but with action. John Proctor may or may not be the villain, but Bailey Gallagher is undoubtedly the hero.

I did not attend this performance on a press pass.