K-W & Beyond

Death of a Salesman
by David Miller at Soulpepper

If you haven’t visited Toronto Distillery District recently – you should!

It is one of those sudden discoveries in the city area that in the past had a rather bad reputation. Suddenly it became one of the sought after areas, with modern fashionable condominiums, talked about art galleries, recommended restaurants and secluded passages so delightful to wander through and enjoy the fall décor of chrysanthemums and decorative winter cabbage. The Distillery District is also the location of several theatres, Soulpepper being one of them.

Currently Soulpepper is presenting Death of a Salesman, a timeless Arthur Miller’s classic written in 1949, a winner of Pulitzer Prize, Tony Award and New York Critics Drama Circle Award. This Fall, Soulpepper with Albert Schultz as director took it upon themselves to put it on stage. And it is a success!

Joseph Ziegler and Nancy Palk play the main roles of Willy Loman and Linda Loman. I have seen them several times before and each time I am amazed how different and real they appear in their roles, how truthful and sincere they are. They are superb in playing a marital relationship when man is always right, slightly dated but so true in the post-war era. Other supporting actors are very good as well; the directing style of Albert Schultz is very visible in the chosen style and intensity of the story.

For Arthur Miller it was a story of the 40's, the tragedy of lost dreams and ambitions, the continuous drive to succeed as a salesman who is getting just too tired to chase the buck. For the present day audience it is the story of the market collapse of 2008 and the fate of many boomers getting older and tired: tired of constantly chasing the dream, the success, and pursuing the buck - the perpetual story of unemployment and what to do next, - chasing an American dream and doing the utmost not to face reality.

What a play, and what a success of this Soulpepper production!

What is also worth mentioning is the very condensed stage décor, the compressed 3 rooms in the house, nominal events taking place outside this environment, the accuracy of details from the late 40's down to the milk bottle taken from the fridge. My respects to Lorenzo Savoini for the set design.

Death of a Salesman continues at Soulpepper extended until November 20 – and I would not be surprised if it is extended again.

Other plays to be seen at Soulpepper in the near future: a new adaptation of traditional Dickensian Christmas Carol December 6 to 30, 2010.

In 2011 plans, the play list includes Oleanna, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Our Town, Billy Bishop Goes to War (coming back after very successful run in 2010), Glass Menagerie, The Odd Couple, Ghosts and again Parfumerie (smash of 2009). There are several others: a total of 17 plays in one of the best repertory theatres on this continent! Subscriptions are available, flexible combinations of 10 – 7 – 4 plays, the box office is 416-866-8666 or even better look them up on SOULPEPPER.CA.