“A fart on Thomas Putnam!” If you don’t know those famous words, I highly advise you to see the Undergraduate Theater Society’s (UTS) production of Arthur Miller’s classical and notorious play The Crucible. A tragedy about the Salem witch trials, the play explores the relationship between faith, truth and human perseverance. These themes are expressed by a group of highly talented undergraduate drama students.

The play is directed by Ryan Jones, a senior drama major who has directed previous UTS productions such as Bad Habits. He has also been an assistant director for many other UTS plays.

Despite a small stage and minimal usage of sets, the play is beautiful on the whole. The story and emotions are brilliantly transcribed from the actors to the audience, and viewers can’t help but focus on performers during the entire show.

The show takes place in the late 1600s in the town of Salem, Mass., where even a whisper of witchcraft would raise the slightest suspicion. The story begins when Abigail Williams (Alli Standley), her cousin Betty Parris (Alix Isom) and some of their friends are found dancing around a fire in the middle of the night by Betty’s father, the Rev. Samuel Parris. Some townsfolk suggest witchery when Betty is unable to wake. Abigail fears for her life and makes the other girls swear to say nothing.

John Proctor (Trevor Marston), a Salem farmer, and the Rev. John Hale (Reed Fife) come to investigate the incident. The audience then learns that Proctor and young Abigail have had relations in the past, and she has a great lust for him despite the fact that he has a wife, Elizabeth (Carrie Cates). When the girls are asked to explain what they were doing the night before, the girls blame Tituba (Abba Kiser), the Barbadian housemaid, for causing them to dance and see spirits.

The story unfolds into a huge web of false accusations, greedy desires and the loss of innocent lives. The emotion and raw talent of these actors is very impressive. Marston does a fantastic job conveying Proctor as a character who struggles to be faithful and just, even if that means going against common law. Cates is exceptional at portraying a supportive yet righteous wife who understands her husband’s strife.

Three actresses make their UW debuts in the show: Isom and Meagan Karimi-Naser each portray manipulative young girls who pretend to see spirits and falsely accuse townswomen of being witches, and Beatrice Leverett plays Mary Warren, a young housemaid who feels guilty for wrongly condemning the innocent.

Although the play is quite long — two and a half hours, with an intermission — the acting is of such quality and the story is so enthralling, it’s hard to lose your attention. The costumes are appropriate, and the lighting design is noticeably well done.

Note: This review is based on the viewing of a rehearsal on Tuesday,

Jan. 29.