Arthur Miller's All My Sons On Stage Nov. 14-19
SALISBURY, MD---Arthur Miller’s searing drama, All My Sons, measures private greed against public responsibility. The playwright portrays the patriarch of a dysfunctional American family, Joe Keller, who knowingly supplies faulty engine parts for American planes during World War II. Twenty-one pilots go to their death and his innocent business partner to jail.
Robert Smith directs Salisbury University’s production of this thought-provoking revival. Performances are in Fulton Hall Theatre Wednesday-Friday and Monday, November 14-16 and 19, at 8 p.m., Saturday, November 17, at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday, November 18, at 2 p.m.
Miller’s first taste of success came in 1947 with the opening of All My Sons. “The theatre has acquired a genuine new talent,” wrote Brooks Atkinson in the New York Times. Two years later, Death of a Salesman established Miller as a major force in the American theatre. In the half century since, Miller has earned his place, along with Eugene O’Neill and Tennessee Williams, as one of the 20th century’s three great American dramatists.
Under the influence of Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, an early modern realist, and with a nod to Greek tragedy, Miller fashions a dramatic story about truth, social responsibility, and the tragic fate of a simple man who makes bad choices. After landing his partner, Steve Deever, in prison for the shipment of the defective parts, Keller continues running the profitable business. Unaware of this deception, Joe’s idealistic son, Chris, prepares to marry Ann, Deever’s only daughter and the former girlfriend of his brother Larry, who is missing in action and presumed dead.
All My Sons received the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for best play in 1947, the first of many honors for Miller, including the Pulitzer Prize, three Tony Awards, a Kennedy Center Honors Lifetime Achievement Award and the Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize. He is currently the Jefferson Lecturer in Humanities, appointed by the National Endowment for the Arts.
“The play explores war time profiteering, idealism and power of family, timely themes given the recent tragedies,” said Smith. “Miller reminds us, as one of the characters states, that there’s a universe of people outside and we are responsible to it.”
Anthony Parker, Kim Shields and Bill Baisey portray the Keller family members, Joe, Kate and Chris. Leigh Usilton and Steve Ammann are Ann and George Deever. Eric Gemmer plays Dr. Jim Bayliss while Sue Bayliss is played by Jessica Fritz. Justin Gallo and Ann Crossman are Frank and Lydia Lubey and Shane O’Loughlin plays the role of Bert. Set design is by Gerry Patt and sound and lighting design is by Dave Shuhy. Shuhy is also technical director. Stage manager is Amber Wilkerson.
The play is sponsored by the Bobbi Biron Theatre Program. Tickets are $8 general admission and $6 seniors and children. SU ID card holders are admitted free. For ticket information call the Theatre Box Office at 410-543-6228 or visit the SU Web site at www.salisbury.edu.