American playwright Arthur Miller’s 1949 play DEATH OF A SALESMAN still has the power to evoke strong responses from audiences. During the performance I could hear winces and stifled groans coming from patrons as they watched Willy Loman’s merciless descent into despair and madness.
Simon Stone’s current revival at Belvoir Street is pared back and raw. All that is on stage is a car with its headlights on. The car has been the centre of Willy’s life for the last thirty years, driving around the American countryside as a travelling salesman, living the American dream.
The play’s dominant themes come across forcefully, none more so than Miller’s depiction of his countryman’s obsession with career and material success.
Two scenes especially resonated.
Firstly, the scene when Willy said goodbye to his neighbour’s son Bernhard, who is all packed up and going to New York to start his career as a lawyer. You can tell exactly what Willy is thinking, along the lines, how could this no-hoper make it, when my two sons, Biff and Happy, are nobodies?!
DEATH OF A SALESMAN features one of theatre’s most heartbreaking scenes, depicting the wasteland that cross generational change brings. Howard’s firing of Willy is given a contemporary edge with Howard playing with his new business tool, an IPAD, whilst he gives Willy his marching orders.
The cast of eight were excellent. Stone had some of the actors play multiple roles, which they accomplished with ease. Colin Friels was a memorable, haunted Willy Loman. The stand-outs amongst the supporting cast were Luke Mullins playing two very different roles, that of the effeminate, vulnerable Bernhard and Willy’s callous boss, Howard, Steve Le Marquand as Willy’s imperious, successful brother, Ben, and Blazey Best, especially as Willy’s crude mistress.
There was no music, to speak of, in this production. Stone choose wisely. DEATH OF A SALESMAN doesn’t need any orchestration.
Simon Stone’s revival of DEATH OF A SALESMAN played upstairs at Belvoir Street until the 19th August.
Belvoir has announced that because of the outstanding response to the Belvoir season, there will be a further season of the production at the Theatre Royal, 108 King street, Sydney which will run between the 23rd October and the 3rd November, 2012. For further details check Belvoir’s website- www.belvoir.com.au.
© David Kary
15th July, 2012
Tags: Sydney Theatre Reviews, DEATH OF A SALESMAN, Belvoir Street Theatre, Theatre Royal, Arthur Miller, Heidrun Lohr, Sydney Arts Guide, David Kary