Playwright Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa was in Chicago early in 2008, rehearsing the world premiere of a new play he had just written for Steppenwolf Theatre. The company was staging Arthur Miller’s legendary 1953 Tony Award winner, The Crucible, on its mainstage.   

"The Price" is neither the last nor the least of Arthur Miller's plays, although it arrived later (1968) and is certainly a lesser effort than the two seminal plays that elevate him to the very pinnacle of American playwriting. Now through Nov. 23 at the Madisonville Arts Center, four Blue Chips Players are airing out the piece in a sometimes rambling, mostly vigorous, ever contentious production that's not unlike beating the dust out of an old carpet.