[NEohioPAL]Jewish News Review of "Hit" Death of a Salesman at Actors' Summit
Thackaberr at aol.com
Thackaberr at aol.com
Tue Feb 27 13:55:11 PST 2007
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=E2=80=98Salesman=E2=80=99 scores another hit at Actors=E2=80=99 Summit =20
Reviewed by FRAN HELLER Contributing Writer
Actors=E2=80=99 Summit is on a roll. =20
Following A. Neil Thackaberry=E2=80=99s sublime performance in =E2=80=9CQED=
,=E2=80=9D he tackles=20
one of the most memorable characters in one of the most enduring classics i=
n=20
the theatrical canon, Willy Loman in Arthur Miller=E2=80=99s masterpiece=20=
=E2=80=9CDeath of a=20
Salesman.=E2=80=9D
When the play opened in 1949, it met with instant success from critics and=20
audiences alike. Since that time, the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama has been=
=20
produced all over the world and in many languages including Yiddish, Hebrew=
,=20
Spanish, German, Italian, French, Korean and Chinese. It even played before=
a=20
native audience in a small Arctic village, with the same villagers returnin=
g=20
night after night to witness the performance in a language they did not=20
understand.
No one can doubt the play=E2=80=99s universal appeal, and the fine producti=
on at=20
Actors=E2=80=99 Summit through March 4 gives ample reasons why. =20
=20
Miller endowed his flawed characters with a humanity and empathy that=20
touches us all. An ensemble of first-rate actors, spearheaded by larger-tha=
n-life=20
performances from Thackaberry as the doomed Willy and Nick Koesters as his=20
lost son Biff, strikes at the very heart of this masterwork.
Director Alex Cikra=E2=80=99s well-paced production illuminates the contras=
t in=20
action between present and past. The past takes place in Willy=E2=80=99s mi=
nd.
The intimacy of the theater allows for a close encounter with this American=
=20
tragedy that is even more shattering in its immediacy.
One structural weakness in this production wounds the play=E2=80=99s credib=
ility,=20
though not fatally. Casting one actor to play all subsidiary characters, th=
ose=20
in the present and the ones in Willy=E2=80=99s memory, proves awkward and,=20=
at times,=20
confusing.
The most noticeable lapse occurs early in the play when Willy and his=20
neighbor Charley are playing cards and Willy imagines he sees his brother B=
en, who=20
should appear as a real person. =20
=20
However, Marc Moritz, who plays both Ben and Charley, must throw his voice=20
between the two characters, like a ventriloquist playing both the puppeteer=
=20
and the dummy. It=E2=80=99s a huge directorial risk that doesn=E2=80=99t wo=
rk.
Thackaberry, meanwhile, gives us a Willy who dissolves before our very eyes=
.=20
The action takes place in the last 24 hours of Willy=E2=80=99s life. He firs=
t =20
appears on stage tired, defeated and visibly depressed. Finding the present=20=
=20
unbearable, his retreat into fantasy and the past is already in evidence.
Willy vents his rage, confusion and disappointment at a wife who remains=20
steadfast but largely clueless as to what is happening to her husband and a=
t a=20
son who mirrors his own failures. Thackaberry is at his most magnificent as=
a=20
family man who has failed as both father and husband.
Living in a capitalistic society that emphasizes material values, Willy has=
=20
a misguided sense of self. He is obsessed not only with financial success,=20
but with appearances and impressions. What is important to Willy is being=20=
=E2=80=9C
well-liked by others,=E2=80=9D and he has passed these superficial values o=
n to his two=20
sons, Biff and Happy. =20
=20
The tragedy of Willy Loman is that he never finds out who he is. He has all=
=20
the wrong dreams. Desperately needing love and respect, he remains blind to=
=20
those who freely offer it.
Centerpiece of the play is the volcanic relationship between Willy and Biff=
.=20
Biff is the only family member who comes to terms with who he is. Such=20
self-knowledge frees him from his self-destructive tendencies and allows th=
e love=20
for his father to come through.
Many stellar moments in the play come to mind, but two remain indelible.
Koesters delivers a towering performance as the angry and defeated Biff,=20
Willy=E2=80=99s older son and favorite. Biff worships his father. Watching=20=
Biff crumble=20
when he discovers his father=E2=80=99s clandestine relationship in a Boston=
hotel is=20
one of the finest moments of acting I have ever witnessed. =20
=20
Without uttering a word, Biff=E2=80=99s face droops, his lips quiver, his e=
yes lose=20
their luster, and his body slumps as the realization of what is happening=20
convulses through him like an electric shock.
Later, the final act of forgiveness and reconciliation, in which Biff break=
s=20
down and cries and Willy realizes he is loved by his son, is shattering in=20
its impact. Bravo to Koesters and Thackaberry for such theatrical rewards.
A visibly cowed but steely Paula Duesing is superb as Linda Loman, Willy=
=E2=80=99s=20
long-suffering, steadfast wife who loves him unconditionally. Linda has no=20
idea why Willy and Biff seem to hate each other.
While Linda appears passive and acts like a doormat for her husband=E2=80=
=99s=20
emotional volatility, she is also the glue that keeps everyone together, an=
d her =E2=80=9C
boys=E2=80=9D adore her.
Linda=E2=80=99s tearful play on the word =E2=80=9Cfree=E2=80=9D in the requi=
em is the final irony.
John Galbraith captures the shallowness of Happy, a womanizer and mid-level=
=20
clerk who suffers from the same illusions and fantasies as his father; he=
=E2=80=99s=20
also destined to make the same mistakes. =E2=80=9CI=E2=80=99ll get married,=
=E2=80=9D Hap=20
half-promises his parents, with a casualness that confirms the lie.
Moritz handles his multiple roles with aplomb. He is most effective as Ben,=
=20
Willy=E2=80=99s successful brother who fled to Alaska in search of their ab=
sentee=20
father and came back a very rich man.
Ben=E2=80=99s success stands in stark contrast to Willy=E2=80=99s failure.=20=
So does Charley=E2=80=99
s son Bernard (played just right by a nerdy Moritz), who succeeds where Bif=
f=20
and Hap have failed. Moritz also portrays Howard, Willy=E2=80=99s unsympath=
etic boss,=20
and Charley, his best friend and neighbor who gives Willy the money to pay=20
his bills.
Deb Holthus has the cameo role as The Woman, with whom Willy has an affair.
MaryJo Alexander=E2=80=99s cramped set design illuminates the claustrophobi=
a, both=20
real and psychological, that overtakes Willy and his family.
As my husband was brushing snow off the car before heading home, Thackaberr=
y=20
emerged from the theater. He thanked us for coming on such a blustery=20
evening. Doing this play, he said, is like climbing Mt. Everest every night=
.
Thackaberry and company have reached the summit successfully.
Actors=E2=80=99 Summit is at 86 Owen Brown St. in downtown Hudson. Tickets:=
=20
330-342-0800. Website: _www.actorssummit.org_ (http://www.actorssummit.org)=20=
.=20
=20
If you would prefer not to receive emails from Actors' Summit, please reply=
=20
to this email with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line. Thanks.
<BR><BR><BR>**************************************<BR> AOL now offers free=20
email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at=20
http://www.aol.com.
-------------------------------1172613311
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<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><STRONG><FONT size=3D3><S=
PAN=20
class=3Dheadline1>=E2=80=98Salesman=E2=80=99 scores another hit at Actors=
=E2=80=99 Summit </SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></STRONG=
></P>
<P class=3Dcontent style=3D"MARGIN: auto 0in"><FONT size=3D3>Reviewed by FRA=
N HELLER=20
Contributing Writer<BR><BR>Actors=E2=80=99 Summit is on a roll. </FONT></P>
<P><SPAN class=3Dcontent1><FONT size=3D3>Following A. Neil Thackaberry=E2=
=80=99s sublime=20
performance in =E2=80=9CQED,=E2=80=9D he tackles one of the most memorable c=
haracters in one of=20
the most enduring classics in the theatrical canon, Willy Loman in Arthur=20
Miller=E2=80=99s masterpiece =E2=80=9CDeath of a Salesman.=E2=80=9D</FONT></=
SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><BR><BR><FONT size=3D3><SPAN=20
class=3Dcontent1>When the play opened in 1949, it met with instant success f=
rom=20
critics and audiences alike. Since that time, the Pulitzer Prize-winning dra=
ma=20
has been produced all over the world and in many languages including Yiddish=
,=20
Hebrew, Spanish, German, Italian, French, Korean and Chinese. It even played=
=20
before a native audience in a small Arctic village, with the same villagers=20
returning night after night to witness the performance in a language they di=
d=20
not understand.</SPAN><BR><BR><SPAN class=3Dcontent1>No one can doubt the pl=
ay=E2=80=99s=20
universal appeal, and the fine production at Actors=E2=80=99 Summit through=20=
March 4=20
gives ample reasons why.</SPAN> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<DIV>
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style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> =
</o:p></SPAN></I></P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV>
<P><SPAN class=3Dcontent1><FONT size=3D3>Miller endowed his flawed character=
s with a=20
humanity and empathy that touches us all. An ensemble of first-rate actors,=20
spearheaded by larger-than-life performances from Thackaberry as the doomed=20
Willy and Nick Koesters as his lost son Biff, strikes at the very heart of t=
his=20
masterwork.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><BR><BR><FONT size=3D3><SPAN=20
class=3Dcontent1>Director Alex Cikra=E2=80=99s well-paced production illumin=
ates the=20
contrast in action between present and past. The past takes place in Willy=
=E2=80=99s=20
mind.</SPAN><BR><BR><SPAN class=3Dcontent1>The intimacy of the theater allow=
s for=20
a close encounter with this American tragedy that is even more shattering in=
its=20
immediacy.</SPAN><BR><BR><SPAN class=3Dcontent1>One structural weakness in t=
his=20
production wounds the play=E2=80=99s credibility, though not fatally. Castin=
g one actor=20
to play all subsidiary characters, those in the present and the ones in Will=
y=E2=80=99s=20
memory, proves awkward and, at times, confusing.</SPAN><BR><BR><SPAN=20
class=3Dcontent1>The most noticeable lapse occurs early in the play when Wil=
ly and=20
his neighbor Charley are playing cards and Willy imagines he sees his brothe=
r=20
Ben, who should appear as a real person.</SPAN> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P=
>
<DIV>
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<P class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-element: frame; mso-element-frame-hs=
pace: 1.8pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragrap=
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nt-top: middle; mso-height-rule: exactly"><I><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> =
</o:p></SPAN></I></P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV>
<P><SPAN class=3Dcontent1><FONT size=3D3>However, Marc Moritz, who plays bot=
h Ben=20
and Charley, must throw his voice between the two characters, like a=20
ventriloquist playing both the puppeteer and the dummy. It=E2=80=99s a huge=20=
directorial=20
risk that doesn=E2=80=99t work.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><BR><BR><FONT size=3D3><SPAN=20
class=3Dcontent1>Thackaberry, meanwhile, gives us a Willy who dissolves befo=
re our=20
very eyes. The action takes place in the last 24 hours of Willy=E2=80=99s li=
fe. He first=20
appears on stage tired, defeated and visibly depressed. Finding the present=20
unbearable, his retreat into fantasy and the past is already in=20
evidence.</SPAN><BR><BR><SPAN class=3Dcontent1>Willy vents his rage, confusi=
on and=20
disappointment at a wife who remains steadfast but largely clueless as to wh=
at=20
is happening to her husband and at a son who mirrors his own failures.=20
Thackaberry is at his most magnificent as a family man who has failed as bot=
h=20
father and husband.</SPAN><BR><BR><SPAN class=3Dcontent1>Living in a capital=
istic=20
society that emphasizes material values, Willy has a misguided sense of self=
. He=20
is obsessed not only with financial success, but with appearances and=20
impressions. What is important to Willy is being =E2=80=9Cwell-liked by othe=
rs,=E2=80=9D and he=20
has passed these superficial values on to his two sons, Biff and Happy.</SPA=
N>=20
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<DIV>
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></TD></TR>
<TR style=3D"mso-yfti-irow: 1; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes">
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style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-element: frame; mso-element-frame-hs=
pace: 1.8pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragrap=
h; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-left: right; mso-eleme=
nt-top: middle; mso-height-rule: exactly"><I><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> =
</o:p></SPAN></I></P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV>
<P><SPAN class=3Dcontent1><FONT size=3D3>The tragedy of Willy Loman is that=20=
he never=20
finds out who he is. He has all the wrong dreams. Desperately needing love a=
nd=20
respect, he remains blind to those who freely offer it.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><BR><BR><FONT size=3D3><SPAN=20
class=3Dcontent1>Centerpiece of the play is the volcanic relationship betwee=
n=20
Willy and Biff. Biff is the only family member who comes to terms with who h=
e=20
is. Such self-knowledge frees him from his self-destructive tendencies and=20
allows the love for his father to come through.</SPAN><BR><BR><SPAN=20
class=3Dcontent1>Many stellar moments in the play come to mind, but two rema=
in=20
indelible.</SPAN><BR><BR><SPAN class=3Dcontent1>Koesters delivers a towering=
=20
performance as the angry and defeated Biff, Willy=E2=80=99s older son and fa=
vorite. Biff=20
worships his father. Watching Biff crumble when he discovers his father=E2=
=80=99s=20
clandestine relationship in a Boston hotel is one of the finest moments of=20
acting I have ever witnessed.</SPAN> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<DIV>
<TABLE class=3DMsoNormalTable=20
style=3D"mso-cellspacing: 0in; mso-table-lspace: 1.8pt; mso-table-rspace: 1.=
8pt; mso-table-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-table-anchor-horizontal: colu=
mn; mso-table-left: right; mso-table-top: middle; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0=
in 0in"=20
cellSpacing=3D0 cellPadding=3D0 align=3Dright border=3D0>
<TBODY>
<TR style=3D"mso-yfti-irow: 0">
<TD=20
style=3D"BORDER-RIGHT: #ebe9ed; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #ebe9ed;=
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style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-element: frame; mso-element-frame-hs=
pace: 1.8pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragrap=
h; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-left: right; mso-eleme=
nt-top: middle; mso-height-rule: exactly"><SPAN=20
style=3D"COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P=
></TD></TR>
<TR style=3D"mso-yfti-irow: 1; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes">
<TD=20
style=3D"BORDER-RIGHT: #ebe9ed; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #ebe9ed;=
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<P class=3DMsoNormal=20
style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-element: frame; mso-element-frame-hs=
pace: 1.8pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragrap=
h; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-left: right; mso-eleme=
nt-top: middle; mso-height-rule: exactly"><I><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> =
</o:p></SPAN></I></P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3Dcontent1><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-an=
si-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">W=
ithout=20
uttering a word, Biff=E2=80=99s face droops, his lips quiver, his eyes lose=20=
their=20
luster, and his body slumps as the realization of what is happening convulse=
s=20
through him like an electric shock.</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font=
-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language:=20=
EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><BR><BR><SPAN=20
class=3Dcontent1>Later, the final act of forgiveness and reconciliation, in=20=
which=20
Biff breaks down and cries and Willy realizes he is loved by his son, is=20
shattering in its impact. Bravo to Koesters and Thackaberry for such theatri=
cal=20
rewards.</SPAN><BR><BR><SPAN class=3Dcontent1>A visibly cowed but steely Pau=
la=20
Duesing is superb as Linda Loman, Willy=E2=80=99s long-suffering, steadfast=20=
wife who=20
loves him unconditionally. Linda has no idea why Willy and Biff seem to hate=
=20
each other.</SPAN><BR><BR><SPAN class=3Dcontent1>While Linda appears passive=
and=20
acts like a doormat for her husband=E2=80=99s emotional volatility, she is a=
lso the glue=20
that keeps everyone together, and her =E2=80=9Cboys=E2=80=9D adore her.</SPA=
N><BR><BR><SPAN=20
class=3Dcontent1>Linda=E2=80=99s tearful play on the word =E2=80=9Cfree=E2=
=80=9D in the requiem is the=20
final irony.</SPAN><BR><BR><SPAN class=3Dcontent1>John Galbraith captures th=
e=20
shallowness of Happy, a womanizer and mid-level clerk who suffers from the s=
ame=20
illusions and fantasies as his father; he=E2=80=99s also destined to make th=
e same=20
mistakes. =E2=80=9CI=E2=80=99ll get married,=E2=80=9D Hap half-promises his=20=
parents, with a casualness=20
that confirms the lie.</SPAN><BR><BR><SPAN class=3Dcontent1>Moritz handles h=
is=20
multiple roles with aplomb. He is most effective as Ben, Willy=E2=80=99s suc=
cessful=20
brother who fled to Alaska in search of their absentee father and came back=20=
a=20
very rich man.</SPAN><BR><BR><SPAN class=3Dcontent1>Ben=E2=80=99s success st=
ands in stark=20
contrast to Willy=E2=80=99s failure. So does Charley=E2=80=99s son Bernard (=
played just right by=20
a nerdy Moritz), who succeeds where Biff and Hap have failed. Moritz also=20
portrays Howard, Willy=E2=80=99s unsympathetic boss, and Charley, his best f=
riend and=20
neighbor who gives Willy the money to pay his bills.</SPAN><BR><BR><SPAN=20
class=3Dcontent1>Deb Holthus has the cameo role as The Woman, with whom Will=
y has=20
an affair.</SPAN><BR><BR><SPAN class=3Dcontent1>MaryJo Alexander=E2=80=99s c=
ramped set=20
design illuminates the claustrophobia, both real and psychological, that=20
overtakes Willy and his family.</SPAN><BR><BR><SPAN class=3Dcontent1>As my h=
usband=20
was brushing snow off the car before heading home, Thackaberry emerged from=20=
the=20
theater. He thanked us for coming on such a blustery evening. Doing this pla=
y,=20
he said, is like climbing Mt. Everest every night.</SPAN><BR><BR><SPAN=20
class=3Dcontent1>Thackaberry and company have reached the summit=20
successfully.</SPAN><BR><BR><SPAN class=3Dcontent1>Actors=E2=80=99 Summit is=
at 86 Owen=20
Brown St. in downtown Hudson. Tickets: 330-342-0800. Website: <A=20
href=3D"http://www.actorssummit.org">www.actorssummit.org</A>.</SPAN>=20
</SPAN></DIV>
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