John Proctor is the Villain better win the Tony for Best Play.

Got out of JPITV and my god. Definitely the best play of the season. Was truly floored with how much it accomplishes in a very short amount of time. Also impressed how it's early in previews and it seems like it's been running for months. The direction is assured and the performances are incredible.

As someone who isn't the target demo for this I went in not knowing anything about it other than it was about high schoolers reading The Crucible. By the end I had full on cried at least three times.

Sadie Sink was really solid but she is much less the lead than I assumed she was and how the play is being promoted. I get it she's a huge star and has a following but it feels very much an ensemble piece. Highlights from the cast include Fina Strazza and Amalia Yoo who both absolutely deserve Tony nominations.

The best scenes for me were:

• The scene in which the students all having been through traumatic events just scream in a moment of pure catharsis. I was so moved but I was shocked that the audience was laughing during it. For me it was a purely emotional raw moment where they cannot fix any of their problems and can't even put their emotions into words and they have no choice but to give in to their primal urges. I was in tears.
• The moment Raelynn (Amalia Yoo) says to Lee (Hagan Oliveras), "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" again could've come off as corny, but given the context of the play and the wonderful sharp writing before all of it, it was such an emotional moment. I wanted to jump out of my seat.
• The bit about Taylor Swift killing John Mayer was amazing.
• The dancing scene at the end was a perfect ending and I cried during the whole time. Perfectly choreographed and acted. The lighting and the music choice worked perfectly. Loved the moments of the other students standing up and physically defending them against Mr. Smith.

If I had to quibble:

• There doesn't seem to be a satisfying ending in terms of Beth's character. I wasn't actually sure what the scene with her and Mr. Smith was supposed to imply. Can someone explain?
• I'm not sure a teacher who's been accused of SA would be allowed to be in the same room with his accuser even if there isn't enough evidence.
• Can someone explain to me the laughing sequence between Shelby and Raelynn? I initially understood it to be a scene of them cathartically letting out their emotions and having their laughter turn to crying. But it went very David Lynch with their laughter turning maniac bordering on surrealism with the laughing lasting longer than I thought it needed to...
• If Miss Gallagher had suspicions or knew of Mr. Smith's actions / behavior with other victims why is she now turning a 180? Why would she tell him right before class?

Regardless, these are minor issues and I feel confident having seen most of the new plays this season (aside from English and Stranger Things) that JPITV is the best new play of the season and fully deserves the win over Oh, Mary, Purpose, and The Hills of California.

I also hope it gets nominations for Sadie Sink, Fina Strazza, and Amalia Yoo, it's direction, scenic design, and lighting.