The Talawa Theatre Company is the UK’s primary Black-led theatre company and I saw its ambitious attempt at this famous 1947 Arthur Miller play at Richmond Theatre this evening. The all black cast is suitable recognition of the challenges faced by Afro-Americans to serve their country in the face of inbuilt prejudice in the armed forces and the Government.
It’s based on a true story – a defence manufacturer supplied faulty goods to the US Government during WW2 resulting in 21 pilots dying. It also weaves in another true story where one business partner takes the moral and legal responsibility for the catastrophe and goes to jail while the other continues to run the business and live with his family. There’s also an implicit criticism of the American Dream – and the idea that business and money corrupts – for which the left wing playwright was called to account.
The play focuses on Joe Keller (Ray Snell) and his wife Kate Keller (Dona Croll) maintaining the belief that their son Larry – who went MIA three years ago – is still alive thus resisting their other former military son Chris’s (Leemore Marrett Jr) desire to marry his brother’s former girlfriend Ann Deever (Kemi-Bo Jacobs).
I have to say that it is a challenging play to watch – the early lighter moments of humour are over shadowed by the dramatic twists and turns as the story unfolds. There are numerous characters – neighbours – who are connected to the family and the tragedy and deceit. The slow burn build-up of tension is tiring and there were times when my attention wavered.
Having said that, the performances of Snell, Croll and Marrett were outstanding – even the Southern States accents didn’t detract from their passionate portrayal of sometimes misguided and at other times idealistic beliefs. The appearance by a very young actor playing local child Burt deserves a mention – a strong, credible albeit short performance. Unfortunately, I found Kemi-Bo mesmerising for perhaps the wrong reasons – I couldn’t work out whether she was particularly skilled at her craft or heavy-handed and stilted in the role.
The set design was beautiful – the Southern colonial clapboard house with a large elevated deck, a rope swing, apples strewn about and lush greenery hanging from giant shady trees. It was evocative of the steamy heat of the region.
It is a play about blame, secrets, conspiracy, ideals, compromise, families, community, tragedy and drama. And above all, it is about the terrible toll that war takes on everyone – whether or not on the front line. I felt moved and sombre at its conclusion.
http://www.atgtickets.com/shows/all-my-sons/richmond-theatre/ It runs at Richmond until Saturday
http://www.talawa.com/productions.php
