ALL MY SONS. To 10 February.

Edinburgh

ALL MY SONS
by Arthur Miller

Royal Lyceum Theatre To 10 February 2007.
Tue-Sat 7:45pm Mat Wed & Sat 2.30pm to 10 Feb
Audio-described 25 Jan 27 Jan 2.30pm (+ Touch Tour 27 Jan)
BSL Signed 31 Jan 7.45pm
Runs 2hr 10min. One interval.

TICKETS: 0131 248 4848
www.lyceum.org.uk
Review: Thelma Good 13 January 2007.

Best when it gets round to the plot.
Before the play starts, John Dove’s production makes an unneeded attempt to tie it to the present with a set piece: a just-vacated press conference under a seal which bears the US motto “In God We Trust”. This over-egging spin is not needed.

Once in the tall-tree-flanked green grass yard of a smart American, 2- storey house with porch, there’s only one jarring note as house- and factory-owner Joe Keller sits with his neighbour Dr Jim Bayliss, looking at the Sunday papers. It’s a damaged young apple tree. But soon cracks open in this backyard American dream. Bright-eyed, irritating neighbour Frank appears. He’s drawing up a horoscope for Larry Keller.

Larry’s the son whose absence we quick realise haunts the Kellers as neighbours come to speak to them or to catch up with visiting Ann Deever. She lived before Dr Jim in the house next door with her family and was Larry’s girl. Shonagh Price gives Ann a fierce, fragile strength, a pure version of the same intense emotion Larry’s Mother Kate Keller only just contains. Kathryn Howden’s Kate is an over-tensioned wire on the verge of snapping while Stuart Milligan’s Joe seems an earthy counterbalance. He’s a business-man whose words still carry weight despite having been on trial for flawed plane manufacture during the war.

Younger son Chris may be working with his Dad but the war he fought in has made him see things differently. He speaks passionately about what his men did. Bit by bit we see Richard Conlon’s Chris struggle with his love and his conscience while the neighbours and their wives, vividly played by Meg Fraser and Natalie Bennett, come in and out of the Keller’s backyard. Playwright Arthur Miller’s dialogue frequently does two jobs - appearing both very real and everyday but also excitingly containing more significance than the characters are aware of. Ann’s brother appears, after his visit to their father - Joe’s former business-partner - in jail, adding even more tension.

John Dove’s direction is thankfully even-handed, the actions of all clearly have understandable rationales. Long-avoided tragedy circles closer as compromises or principles force difficult choices to an ending that echoes Chekhov.

Joe Keller: Stuart Milligan.
Kate Keller: Kathryn Howden.
Chris Keller: Richard Conlon.
Ann Deever: Shonagh Price.
George Deever: Robin Laing.
Dr Jim Bayliss: Steven Cartwright.
Sue Bayliss: Meg Fraser.
Frank Lube: Paul Thomas Hickey.
Lydia Lube: Natalie Bennett.
Bert: Aidan Curran/Ben Hughes

Director: John Dove.
Designer: Michael Taylor.
Lighting: Jeanine Davies.
Accent Coach : Lynn Bains.

2007-01-23 00:01:09