There is a major challenge to write a reivew of a genuine American classic..
Artur Miller in each of his plays has found the voice of the times and the friction of the charactres and the situations that make for a strong production: the stuff of what a 'straight play' must be. Opening night is a trip. Familiar faces; heavy duty talent on stage and in the audience makes it not just an evening of theatre,but an opportunity to share the energy that comes with people who know Miller and have high hopes.
Make no mistake, on entering the Antaeus space, the overwhemling presence of The Keller Home: At once industrial and elegant... Enough to suggest the wealth and importance that Joe Keller has gained through Busienss, with intimidating lights: dozens of scoops arranged right and left: the anthesis of the realism that the text of All MySons demands. The brilliant contrast at first seems... just wrong.
Still the gravity of the times is undeniable.
Antaeus is Glendale's Classic Theatre Company bringing one of Arthur Miller's most poignant and soul searching plays to the stage as Salesman and The Price also find curtain up in town for spring. The story of Joe Keller (Bo Foxworth) ) and his ragged road to manufacuring success is filled with angst and passion. How Joe's long suffering wife, Kate, (Tessa Auberjonois) and their family deal with the loss of Kate and Joe's son, Larry in the war and how conscience and truth come along, especially as Kate comes to grips with the loss of her Larry and the uncomfortable business of how their son, Chris (Matthew Grondin ) brings to the surface old hurts with his love of 'Larry's girl" Ann (Shannon Lee Clair ). moves a pace.
We are in Ohio. Post WWII . Maybe 1948?
Men are home and regaining their lives. Chris confesses issues with his loss of soldiers and his love of Ann. Truth be told? His personal ethic is supportive and kind. His philosophy contrasts Joe's practical / survival outlook. ok Bo Foxworth and Tessa Auberjonois. Photo Credit: Craig Schwartz Photography
Opening night delivers high high energy. It's inevitable and as the play moves on, we find the humanity in each of these fundamentally American characters.
As Kate clings to her illusion that son, Larry, is still alive, we meet Frank (Johnny Patrick Yoder), a sincere and slightly loopy neighbor who is preparing Larry's horoscope to determine if the day he may have died was his "good day."
Frank is ridiculed by Jim (Bryan Keith), slightly whipped by his dumpling wife , Susie,(Cherish Monique Duke). The put down is succinct.
The beauty of Arthur Miller's characters is that the humanity of each story is absolutely clear. We have a breather now and then, right down to the brief expositoon that includes a well mannered kid, Bert (ramrod straight Brooklyn Bao) who can't say bad words and the unhappy arrival of Ann's brother, George (Michael Yapujian... more nervous than nervous). Revelations slowly emerge as the mystery that everone, evidently, has known all along, come to light. A brief scene with Frank's wife, Lydia (Erin Pineda), is remarably poignant.
The looming presence of the Keller Home stylized by Fred Kinney with the blatant intrusion of Andrew Schmedake's lights is mellowed by teriffic period costumes by Wendell Carmichael
It's a well done peridod piece. Diversity casting with Jim and Susie works perfectly. It's an Arthur Miller play and the expectations of deep roots for every character are each brought to life by the well tuned ensemble.The symbolism of schock and awe boosts the dramatic tension: sound and lights.
It's something that Mr. Miller might cluck a bit at with the exposed tech, but would probably agree with me that the production is solid and as it catches its breath should enjoy full houses and discussions regarding the balance of commerce and humanity.
And, humbling quality of Truth.
Jeff Gardner's original music and sound are sprctacular.
And.. I realize that by not initially metioning the name of the director, Oánh Nguyễn, that their work has been invisible.. as it should be.
Good Show.
Production Team:
Scenic Designer: Fred Kinney
Costume Designer: Wendell Carmichael
Lighting Designer: Andrew Schmedake
Original Music & Sound Designer: Jeff Gardner
Props Designer: John McElveney
Intimacy & Fight Choreographer: Shinshin Yuder Tsai
Production Stage Manager: Talya Camras
Assistant Stage Manager: Jessica Osorio
Assistant Director: Shinshin Yuder Tsai
Cast:
KATE KELLER: Tessa Auberjonois
BERT: Brooklyn Bao
ANN DEEVER: Shannon Lee Clair
SUE BAYLISS: Cherish Monique Duke
JOE KELLER: Bo Foxworth
CHRIS KELLER: Matthew Grondin
DR. JIM BAYLISS: Bryan Keith
BERT: Aarush Mehta
LYDIA LUBEY: Erin Pineda
GEORGE DEEVER: Michael Yapujian
FRANK LUBEY: Johnny Patrick Yoder
Fridays at 8pm: March 6, March 13, March 20, March 27
Saturdays at 2pm: March 7, March 14, March 21
Saturdays at 7pm: February 28 (Opening)
Saturdays at 8pm: March 7, March 14, March 21, March 28
Sundays at 2pm: March 1, March 8, March 15, March 22, March 29
Mondays at 8pm: March 9*, March 16**, March 23, March 30 (Closing)
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