By George Crowley ’16 and Siddharth Jejurikar ’16, Technology and Entertainment Editors
The senior class went downtown Wednesday, October 21st to see the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company put on Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller’s seminal work, what some would argue to be the defining play of the 20th century. The play, despite its perhaps difficult message, is beautifully written, and after seeing it in person, it’s easy to see why it is such a classic. In Miller’s magnum opus he explores concepts prevalent and integral to the Great Depression, including the need for acceptance, urbanization, loneliness, and the frailty of the nuclear family. Located in an old cinema hall, the Cincinnati Shakespeare’s theater provides a challenging medium for set design and a wealth of tonal opportunities. Arthur Miller’s strictly-prescribed set is no less difficult to emulate and interpret, but the Shakespeare Company did a great job working within those restrictions. Great acting and wonderfully-precise set design combined with amazing source material led to an excellent version of an excellent play.
Death of a Salesman tells the tragic tale of Willy Loman, a worn-out man of business struggling to find his place in a society that no longer needs him. Acting as a microcosm for the failings of twentieth century American society, Willy Loman fails to realize the futility and pointlessness of his dreams—just as his country makes the same mistakes. This alluring force of the American Dream is passed on through his progeny, Happy, and Biff Loman, two young men who, despite their aspirations, seem to have great trouble finding their places in the world. Willy most powerfully brings home his worship of the American dream when he says of Biff “a man like that should be able to find himself in America,” indicating his continued faith in this dream.
The actors put on a wonderful performance, especially Justin McCombs, who played the part of Biff. The entire cast emulated the raw emotion and morose atmosphere that is the Loman family for the duration of the play. Excellent set design came in handy as well, giving the audience a complete view of the Loman home in a cohesive and unobtrusive way that contributed to the overall tone of Miller’s work. Historically-accurate dress and well-placed props immersed the viewer seamlessly into the Loman household. Lighting and music design, including haunting flute melodies, both intersected with the very specific stage directions of Miller and effectively brought the play to life.
The plot of Death of a Salesman is strong and heavy—hitting the viewer with heaps and piles of raw emotion. The Cincinnati Shakespeare Company did an excellent job of translating these feelings from text to the stage. The message of mismanaged dreams and expectations that Miller originally wrought and that they brought to life is still very relevant today. Especially for Upper Schoolers who are beginning to consider careers and college, this message is very important. We encourage everyone to watch or at least read this play once; it is powerful, and provides a frame of reference by which to judge other works.
