ALL MY SONS @ HUBBARD HALL, 4/2/10
by Michael Eck
Special to The Times Union
A small crowd gathered at Hubbard Hall Friday night for the opening of Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons.” That’s too bad. It should have been a big crowd, because this is a powerful production of a powerful play.
It does not go down easy.
63 years after making its bow on Broadway the play remains a scathing indictment of American ideals; and — unfortunately — its themes of money and war seem as timely as they did in 1947.
Actor Allen McCullough directs the show for the Theatre Company at Hubbard Hall and it’s his first time on the other side of the stage.
He succeeds by letting the actors act, and he has assembled a top notch cast mixing Hubbard Hall familiars and talented newcomers with serious resumes. McCullough has also been assisted by his wife, Randolyn Zinn, who choreographs the action in such a way to amplify the emotions without distracting from the tale.
And what a tale.
Miller wrote “All My Sons” using Greek tragedies as a rule book, and he succeeded in spades.
As the play opens we find ourselves in the backyard of Joe Keller’s house, just beside the former home of his partner, Steve Deever, who went to jail after being convicted of selling cracked cylinder heads the Army Air Force (and causing 21 pilots to crash over Australia).
Soon the details swirl around — concerning sons who died overseas and sons who came home; daughters who stopped talking to their fathers; and mothers who manipulate the truth.
The play is indeed a tragedy, but its force would be blunted to say much more.
As noted, McCullough’s cast is strong, playing all the action in realistic fashion on a simple stylized set courtesy of Richard Howe.
David Braucher has a winning grin as Keller; the kind of grimace that belongs to a man living with secrets. Joan Coombs is every bit his equal as wife, Kate, one of the most thankless roles in the American canon. Coombs creates a full character, without worrying whether the audience will love her or loathe her.
Josh Bywater and Melissa Macleod Herion play Chris Keller and Ann Deever, children of the accused men; both caught in the webs left by the incident, the war and the loss of Larry Keller (Chris’ beloved brother and Ann’s intended) in the Pacific Theatre.
Bywater is brilliant in his role and this production hangs on him; as does Herion as the confused, yet willful Ann.
The supporting cast is also impressive, although Peter Delocis and Keelye St. John might be just a little loud (and not just in volume) for the surroundings.
Capital Repertory Theater recently offered a production of “To Kill a Mockingbird” which reminded patrons just how powerful classics (even dark classics) can be. This staging of “All My Sons” does the same.
See it.
ALL MY SONS
Performance reviewed: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: Hubbard Hall, 25 E. Main Street, Cambridge
Running time: 2 hours, 15 minutes; one intermission
Continues: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Through April 25.
Tickets: $15-$24
Info: 677-2495; http://www.hubbardhall.org.
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