In a post-WWII midwestern American town during August of 1947, it’s summertime and life is good. Though, for one family, the veneer of financial success and camaraderie do not hide the truth simmering below the surface in Playcrafters’ latest stage play, ALL MY SONS—a memorable classic by the famed Arthur Miller (“Death of a Salesman”). The striking portrayal of a family’s saga makes way for the eruption of a long-buried secret weighed down by layers of guilt.
Beyond the confines of the homey back porch rails, the wood is all but splintered as it hides the raw wounds of a brokenhearted family. Each for different reasons. Patriarch and successful business owner, “Joe Keller,” who is played by John Pinto, lives with the fact that he has done something egregiously dishonest years ago at his machine-parts factory, and his wife, “Mother,” played by Michele Loor Nicolay, mourns her son, a pilot, for whom she still holds out hope that he didn’t die in the war after going missing. Their other son, “Chris,” is played by Eric Rupp, and he has plans to marry “Ann,” portrayed by Emily Addis but some would have him not, including her brother, “George,” played by Ryan Kirchner.
“…an excellent play with an excellent cast, and the setting is very realistic,” said Director Arnie Finkel of the two-act story with intermission that takes the form of a Greek tragedy.
The neighbors include “Dr. Jim Bayliss” and his wife “Sue,” played by John Slibaugh and Deb Marotta; and “Frank Lubey” and wife “Lydia” are played by David Richman and Lauren Kirchner. The little neighbor boy is John Brocagh Lynn. Co-producers are Ro Carpenter and Cathy Carroll.
As Joe puts distance between the haunting memory of his costly mistakes, he comes to realize his past now taints his future as the truth has come back to bite him. It’s not only he who suffers but his whole family.
“Miller’s plays are like an onion…he peels away a little at a time,” said Finkel. “His characters are well drawn and, as Finkel said, “breathing life into them is what our job is.”
This is Miller’s first successful work and he has gone on to create a legendary portfolio of works that have received numerous Tony and Drama Circle awards over the years. The performance will honor a well-loved pillar of the Playcrafters’ community, Ed Rutter, who had a fondness for this play and who recently passed away.
“There’s a lot to think about when it’s all over,” said Finkel. The themes of lying, morality, money, and a whole lot of guilt are all spotlighted in this tragic family saga.
If you go:
Playcrafters’ presents All My Sons
@ The Barn
2011 Store Road at Skippack Pike
Skippack, PA.
August 8,9,10,16,17,22,23,24 @8 pm
August 18 @ 2 pm (sold out)
Tickets: $20.00
www.playcrafters.org
610-584-4005
Playcrafters of Skippack
Review submitted by:
Mary Cantell
Author’s Bio:
Local author of mystery/fiction/romance www.marycantell.com
