Skip to main content

Death of a Salesman

Written in 1948, Death of a Salesman describing the post-War era pursuit of the American Dream, continues to be produced. Ron Krempetz’s minimalist set design echoes Joe Mielziner's original 1949 set design for Death of a Salesman which revolutionized American theatre through its pioneering use of "selective realism" called "selective minimalism" by Krempetz.

Willy Loman, a once successful traveling salesman, has aged and is showing signs of dementia. His previous formula for success – personality, a smile and a shoe shine, it’s not what you know, but who you know – no longer cuts it. He can’t accept that things have changed in the business world. His customers in New England may have loved him, but nobody there knows him anymore.

Charles Queary’s Willy is at moments confused, fatigued, angry, and dejected. His delusions and his dreams for his sons stir up a storm in the Loman household, particularly his relationship with his older son Biff (excellent Brennan Pickman-Thoon). Willy goes on about Biff’s failed football career, pushing him to get into business, when what Biff feels attracted to is ranching, out west.

While both boys have idolized their father, Happy Loman (Evan Held) seems the more malleable of the two. Determined to follow in his father’s footsteps. He sidesteps his father’s rages trying not to make waves.
Brennan Pickman-Thoon as Biff, Evan Held as Happy
"We never told the truth for ten minutes in this house," cries Biff refuting all his father’s pipe dreams and exaggerations about what his sons were capable of achieving.

Splendid Mary Ann Rodgers as Willy's wife, Linda, defends Willy’s behavior to her sons Happy and Biff pointing out his dedication and hard work. Stressing how Willy is well-liked. "Attention must be paid!" she demands of her sons. She is the solid, constant one in the family. Always trying to make peace.

Linda is also the one who has been paying the household bills, where the family is always a little bit short, and something always needs repairing. "I’ve put 34 years into this company and I can’t pay my insurance anymore," Willy cries.

Mary Ann Rodgers as Linda, Brennan Pickman-Thoon as Biff, Evan Held as Happy
It bears a striking comparison to the struggles families are having today. The American Dream needs a remodel. Just like today, the kids can’t find their way, they’re living at home. Just like today, families can’t make ends meet.

Willy routinely calls on his neighbor Charley, (Steve Price) for loans which he never repays. At a low point, Charley offers Willy a job which he refuses out of some false belief that he is still a successful salesman.

Willy reflects on the past as he recalls the opportunities he was offered by his adventurous older brother Ben (haunting Mark P. Robinson) and he is in denial about the different path he has taken.

Standouts in this production include seductive Ilana Niernberger as Willy’s companion in Boston and subtle D.G. Hardy as Stanley, the waiter at Frank’s Chophouse. Director Adrian Elfenbaum guides a sterling cast through Arthur Miller’s enduring portrait of the American Dream.


Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, directed by Adrian Elfenbaum, set by Ron Krempetz, costumes by Valera Coble, lighting by Robin DeLuca, sound by Alexis Brooks, Brooklyn Sound Lab. At Ross Valley Players, Ross - to October 25, 2026.

Info: https://www.rossvalleyplayers.com

Cast: Charles Queary, Mary Ann Rodgers, Evan Held, Brennan Pickman-Thoon, Chris Jensen, Ilana Niernberger, Steve Price, Mark P. Robinson, William Brosnahan, Isadora Zucker, D.G. Hardy, Rachel Ka’iulani Kennealy, Isadora Zucker.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

What better time than the close of summer to perform Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream . And what better place than the John Hinkel Park Amphitheater in the hills of Berkeley. In this natural beauty, blooming relationships of young lovers become jumbled as they encounter a forest full of fairies led by the bickering King Oberon and Queen Titania of the fairies, played by Arcady Eugene and Cynthia Lagodzinski respectively. Puck, talented Linda Maria Girón, leads the merry band of prankster fairies through the forest with music and story-telling. In their fairydust-addled state, four lovers, AnneJelika Ong Cortez as Hermia, Nic Moore as Lysander, Parker Soughers as Demetrius, and Tina Traboulsi as Helena, pursue each other through the forest with hysterical physical antics. Tina Traboulsi’s Helena is so besotted by Demetrius she attaches herself to his legs as he drags her across the forest floor. Bottom, delightfully played by Bruce Kaplan, is the perfect fool. His overblown idea...
Post a Comment
Read more

Absolutely Science Fiction!

Bradbury and Vonnegut Predict the Future at Word for Word After watching Word for Word’s “The Veldt”, Ray Bradbury’s 1950 science fiction horror story, you might want to think again about purchasing that Roomba vacuum.  George and Lydia Hadley have purchased a fully automated Happylife Home. But Lydia (multi-talented Nicole Odell) is starting to feel alienated from the children by the house that looks after their every need. The kitchen serves up meals for four, the nursery is a source of constant, glowing, entertainment. Scenic Designer, Kate Boyd creates shining orange compartments around the rooms that operate with pushbutton ease, perfectly depicting the sterile, yet enticing panels and sliding doors of the house. As the children, Wendy (vivacious Hanah Mae Sturges) and Peter (energetic Christian Jimenez), gain more and more control over the nursery, their parents become alarmed and attempt to lay down the law. Father George (versatile Ryan Tasker) limits the time the children ...
Post a Comment
Read more

R.O.I. (Return on Investment)

What is the price of good health? In R.O.I., ethical boundaries, financial gains, and corporate back stabbing play against the desire to make an impact on the well-being of our fellow human beings. Two venture capitalists are debating what their next big project will be: Paul, (Bay Area favorite Anthony Fusco) the founder of The Montrose Fund and mentor to May, (earnest Sharon Shao) who is eager to prove her value. Mention of avoiding scandalous high-profile health technology start-ups like Theranos tells the audience where this is going. Greed, tech, capitalism. There are huge screens above the stage on the right and left. With a prodigious use of projections, R.O.I. drops you into the action as we see May, a young woman in her 30s walking briskly along the sidewalk on the right screen and then enter the stage just below it. The use of these devices indicate we are dealing with high-tech issues. As the play begins, May shares that her recent interview was with someone who has a chip t...
Post a Comment
Read more