Bruce Kaplan (Willy Loman)
Arthur Miller’s deeply moving story of a struggling family spotlights the failure of society’s false promise: work hard, and you will achieve wealth. Staged on Broadway in 1949, Miller’s play sought to destroy this myth, especially in the grip of the Industrial Revolution. Society, in the post-WWII era, proved the harsh reality: hard work alone does not guarantee anything.
The advantage of a simple set on a small stage enhances the feel of Loman’s sparce home. Set Designer Kirsten Yamaguchi draws the present-time situation toward the stage, and the scenes of the past, off center, closer to the audience. The audience witness the young brother’s happily playing football.
At the heart of the play is Willy Loman, an aging, exhausted traveling salesman whose grip on his health, mental stability, and self-worth is slipping away. Bruce Kaplan delivers a magnificently heartbreaking portrayal of Willy, a man blinded by the fading promise of the American Dream. Kaplan masterfully draws the audience into Willy’s guilt-ridden mental collapse. He delivers an authentic performance that vividly captures each and every little nuance of Willy’s character. From auditory and visual hallucinations to sudden lapses in attention. He witnesses disjointed associations, and erratic mood swings. Kaplan’s portrayal is profound.
Nate Bogner paints a kaleidoscope of sadness in vivid, shifting hues of light, as a melancholy flute lingers hauntingly in the air. The original music and sound design by renowned composer Jeff Dunn add layers of emotional longing and depth to the play.
Maya Rath delivers a quietly powerful performance as Willy’s wife, Linda. With subdued strength, she placates Willy’s unrealistic hopes of improving his sales. At the same time, she conceals her own fragility behind a veil of self-deception. Her attempts to cover Willy’s crumbling self-image mirror her own struggle with denial.
Men like Willy Loman cling to false hope, using it as a lifeline to keep from drowning in guilt. His adult son, Biff, returns home, embodying a fraction of Willy’s dreams. Joshua Roberts gives a powerful, eye-opening performance as Biff, capturing his restlessness and disillusionment with the family’s work demands. Particularly noteworthy are the ferocious confrontations between Biff and Willy, father and son teetering on the edge of splitting forever.
Joshua Roberts (Biff) , Bruce Kaplan (Willy Loman)
Ryan Chu, as Happy, lives at home, and brings a contrasting energy with his charismatic charm, masking his playboy pretensions. His suave confidence provides moments of humor, particularly in his effortless expertise with women. Yet, both sons bear the scars of their father’s inflated confidence in them, carrying the weight of unfulfilled expectations.
The ensemble cast is exceptional, providing an anchor for the Lomans. Evan Mooney, as Willy’s ghostly brother Ben, embodies the unattainable ideal of success that haunts Willy. Missa Perron delivers a sparkling portrayal of The Woman who illustrates Willy’s failures; he buys her stockings to impress clients while his wife mends her own. Carlos Rubinstein, as the kind and affluent Charley, and ZHansen, as Bernard, Biff’s accomplished childhood friend, offer a stark contrast to the Lomans, spotlighting the rewards of steady ambition.
Directors Michael R. Cohen and Michael Sally excel in capturing Miller’s meticulous exploration of character identity and subtle personality dynamics.
Set against a backdrop of pseudo-relentless optimism, the Loman family’s struggles unfold in a post-war world that mirrors the corporate-driven ideals. These values still prevalent in modern society, particularly in times of global conflict.
This production, directed by Cohen and Sally, is a profoundly moving and unforgettable exploration of ambition, failure, societal norms, and the universal longing for recognition and self-worth.
Hurry to see this amazing production, performed by an outstanding ensemble, before Dec 1.
Death of a Salesman written by Arthur Miller, directed by Michael R Cohen and Michael Sally, Costumer Lyre Alston, Props Susan Donn at Actor’s Ensemble, La Val’s Subterranean Theater, Berkeley, CA, www.aeofBerkeley.org, until Sunday, Dec 1, 2024
Cast: Ryan Chu, Z. Hansen, Laszlo Horner, Bruce Kaplan, Evan Mooney Missa Perron, Kara S. Poon, Maya Rath, Joshua Roberts, Carlos Rubinstein
Photo by Vicki Victoria