Death of a Salesman at the Ethel Barrymore

 

These days, it's said that the cornerstone of any successful relationship is knowing how to listen (something a favorite college professor of mine made very clear). While that may be true, apparently Willy Loman didn't get the memo. One of Arthur Miller's most famous works, Death of a Salesmen captures the essence of proud, foolish man with an overblown ego who, in the long run, didn't really deserve the cruel hand that fate dealt him and his family.

Although not very familiar with Arthur Miller's work (the only other play of his I've seen or read is All My Sons), I have always been aware of the reputation of Death of a Salesman. While the magnitude of that reputation is certainly true, the foundation of the play is built on surprisingly simple and easy-to-relate-to themes. Philip Seymour Hoffman and his fellow players bring to life everyday issues such as family quarrels, frustration with routine, a difficult job market and, above all, the dramatic and devastating consequences that can result from failing to communicate properly. The case of Willy Loman's two sons could serve as a model for half of the college graduates in this country; working a series of low-level jobs while trying to find their path in life, yearning for social and financial independence and, more than anything else, the burning desire to make successful names of themselves (all in all, the American Dream, as Willy puts it).

The one confusing part of the performance were Willy's (for lack of a better term) flashbacks. Many of the most significant plot points were related via mental recollections of his "past glory" and conversations with his now-dead brother (the guy definitely had problems, let's leave it at that). Most of the time, whenever these mental episodes came into play, the stage was darkened and covered with a projection of golden leaves, but during the few occasions where this feature was left out, it took some time to realize what was "current" and what was just a memory.

The character of Willy Loman reminded me of personality traits present in two characters from short stories I read in college; Abner Snopes in William Faulkner's Barn Burning and Mr. DiMaria in W.D. Wetherell's The Man Who Loved Levittown. Overall, the show was filled with passionate and powerful performances that make it a worthy addition to the Broadway scene.

A little side note; besides the presence of Hoffman, it was apparently a star-studded night all around. On the night I saw the performance (4/3/12), my parents spotted Ethan Hawke in the audience several rows in front of us, and in the restroom during intermission, I ended up washing my hands right next to Owen Wilson. Who else was there that night, I wonder...?

War Horse at Lincoln Center

Perhaps more than other major conflicts, World War I holds a unique place in history. It marked the first time heavy machinery had entered the field, and resulted in a greater loss of life than any conflict up to that time. European society was thrown into chaos, and nothing would ever be the same again. One fact about WWI, however, is not as widely known; this was the last time that cavalry was deployed as a major unit in armed combat. Recently adapted by Stephen Spielberg into a feature film, the production of War Horse now playing at Lincoln Center offers a unique and touching glimpse into this little known world of vanishing cavalry.

 

Upon seeing the performance, my feelings and reactions were somewhat mixed (as were those of the rest of my family). The storyline in-and-of-itself was not groundbreaking- the prized horse (and perhaps only friend) of a poor English farm boy is sold into the cavalry by his drunken, gambling father and sent to fight in France. The boy secretly enlists and faces many dangers to find his horse, and the two are reunited in the end. The most unique and memorable aspect of the production, however, was the effects. The horses were constructed essentially like mechanical costumes; an articulated framework covered with strips of cloth and leather and manned by 2 or 3 puppeteers. They were really the stars of the show, even more than the actors. There was also a massive computer screen set above the stage, which featured continuously changing digital images (fashioned to look like black and white drawings) relating to the time and place of the current scene.

There were also short musical pieces spaced throughout the performance, some of which were surprisingly good. While the storyline may not have been remarkable, the characters featured multi-layered personalities and displayed very genuine (if somewhat exaggerated) emotions. Overall, if you looked at the story from the personalities and life situations of the characters, you could easily understand their feelings as well as the reasons for their actions.

Seeing this performance has inspired me to view Spielberg's film to see how it stacks up. In any case, I would recommend anyone who can afford it to visit Lincoln Center and book a seat to this remarkable production.

4/14/12- movie comparison 

Look at me I'm the King of New Jersey

The Paper Mill Playhouse, a long-standing regional theater in Millburn New Jersey has for the first time in years produced Newsies, a stage musical based on the 1992 Disney movie starring the second Batman saga's Christian Bale. Though the film was not critically acclaimed the show is receiving good reviews and has made Paper Mill "King of New Jersey" again. Fully funded by Disney, this may very well go to Broadway and run for years to come.

Ancient Romance, Modern Marvel

*Spoiler Alert*

Although it enjoyed a fairly brief stint on Broadway (under 2000 performances), Aida left a permanent mark after I saw it for my 16th birthday. Adapted from the classic 19th century opera by Giuseppe Verdi, legendary musicians Elton John and Tim Rice crafted not only a brilliant score, but also stayed rather faithful to the original Verdi storyline.

The story centers around 3 main characters: Amneris, daughter of the Pharaoh of Egypt and narrator of the tale; Radames, leader of the Egyptian army and Amneris' betrothed; and the titular character Aida, daughter of the King of Nubia (Egypt's enemy) captured by Radames in battle.

As the story progresses, Aida and Radames fall in love, and, one by one, as the supporting characters discover their romance, it threatens to rip the court apart.

The idea of a love triangle and the star-crossed lovers may seem cliche, but the characters display real feelings and many-layered personalities that give the story a whole new meaning. That, combined with breathtaking music and song produce a spectacle to rival any other production in the history of Broadway.

Sources: The Broadway Musical Home- Aida & Wikipedia

The Pee Wee Herman Show coming to DVD and Blu Ray

The Pee Wee Herman show is coming to DVD and Blu Ray on October 4th. It was a mixed version characters from The Pee Wee Herman show in 1984 and Pee Wee's Playhouse. It is a mix of characters from the old version of The Pee Wee Herman in 1984 along with Pee Wee's Playhouse and the new version of The Pee Wee Herman show.

by Justin Stenzler

Rain Tribute To The Beatles

Rain is a Broadway musical takes you back in time. It starts off when they made their first appearance on the Ed Sullivan show in the 1960's. During the show they play your old favorite songs from 1960's and 1970's. They also show the previews from the past and the history of the Vietnam war back in the 1970's. When you see the show you'll want to remember it for a long time. You feel like you a part of the show. If you are a fan of The Beatles it's a must go see.

by Justin Stenzler