Death of a Salesman: Runs like a well conducted symphony.
Venetia Lawless and Donny Laflamme
We all have a dream, don’t we? Sometimes, we turn our dreams into reality and other times, we simply lose ourselves in their pleasant, but non-existent world. The problem starts when we let the fiction in our minds overpower reality, just like Arthur Miller’s memorable character Willy Loman.
Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” is a story about this. It is a profound look on the so-called “American Dream” and the social standards that impose it. It is all in a dream: great success, huge achievements, big money… Yet, in reality each fulfilled dream comes at the cost of thousands of crushed ones and Miller put his finger on the reasons behind this. He speaks, through his characters, of how unrealistic goals bring self-alienation, estrangement and self-distraction. As Karl Jung says, the sub-conscience knows everything: the past, the present and the future; when and if the sub-conscience breaks the barrier of the conscious mind, madness might occur. Slowly, Willy Lomans’s sub-conscience gets into his reality, breaks through his strong denial system, reveals his true life for what it is, and darkens his mind. On his long way to self-destruction, helped by the unreserved support of his devoted and loyal wife, he unintentionally takes his two sons down with him. Finally, he realizes that he is more worth dead than alive (as his life insurance will bring money, socially the only recognized merit – one that he could not earn during his life). Therefore, he finds the solution to his crushed dreams in death.
This is one of the strongest dramatic texts ever written. Its multi-layered structure is as beautiful as it is challenging for any artist – director, actor or stage manager. In Chamber Theatre Hintonburg’s at the Carlton Tavern’s production, the play runs smoothly and melodically, with a perfect pace that has all the characteristics of a well conducted symphony. Director Lisa Zanyk leads it from the very beginning with a firm hand, balancing perfectly the intensity of emotions and reality and hallucinations. The dream world and real life mingle, guilt and fear clash and powerlessness unleashes anger. The succession of emotions is so natural and the casting exceptional. For those reasons, as well as excellent acting, the play hits very close to home for the audience.
Of course, Donnie Laflamme as Willy is the centre and the big star of the performance. He induces life into his character and reveals all his sides – the dreamy one and the dark one. However, he also makes us understand all the Willies of this world. They are passionate, adventurous risk takers. They dream big and only take all or nothing; they live and die for their dreams. Unfortunately, they are among those thousands – victims of the socially imposed definition of success. Donnie Laflamme makes his character timeless and a symbol of the meaningless chase for imaginary success. Willy ends up a warning to all of us.
Manon Dumas cannot be more convincing as Linda Loman. Her role is constantly growing and, finally, in the second act, she transforms Linda from a weak woman, stripped of any personality, into a tigress who stands by her man and defends him fiercely when everybody else seems to be deserting him (albeit for justified reasons). As the play advances, another character emerges as a stronghold of the tragic events. Leslie Cserepy starts off somewhat shaky, but in the second act his talent shines as he leads the lost son Biff from anger and confusion to love, self-realization and self-acceptance.
Obviously, Lisa Zanyk knows how to bring out the best in every actor and allow them to spread their wings on stage. It is a wonderfully executed play, although not performed in the best space. Death of Salesman does not need a huge stage, as it is more a philosophical than physical type of play, so it mostly depends on words. Still, a little bit more space and a little bit more emphasis on lighting (to add to the atmosphere) would help. All in all, this is an event to remember. Definitely a “must” for theatre lovers!
Death of a Salesman plays April 3, 4 at 6:30pm, April 5 at 5pm.at the Carleton Tavern on Parkdale, then Southminster United Church (Aylmer Ave. and Bank St. South) on April 25 and the Black Sheep Inn, Wakefield on May 1.
Written by Arthur Miller,
Directed by Lisa Zanyk
Light, sound design Glen Macintosh
Costume design: Kristen Saar
Cast:
Donne Laflamme Willy Loman
Manon Dumas Linda Loman
Leslie Cserepy Biff Loman
Cory Thibert Happy Loman
Math Smith Bernard
Venetia Lawless The Woman
Louis Lemire Ben
Jeff Leiper Howard
Charlie Ebbs The waiter
Jennifer Vawer Miss Forsythe
Emily Carvell Letta
Ben Robert Reynolds