Back on March 27, 2006 I wrote a RAVE about a local production of Arthur Miller's timeless classic, DEATH OF A SALESMAN. I noticed in this morning's paper it's re-opening, in the larger venue at Pacific Resident Theatre complex, 703 Venice Blvd, Venice, CA. It'll run through July 23rd. If you have even a passing interest in the classics - in fact, especially if you don't - don't miss this production. All the same actors and director are involved. It's simply stunning, and brilliant. Here's a reprint of my review:

"  My beautiful dear friend, Lesley, (an awesome playwright herself), took me Saturday night to see the Venice-based Pacific Resident Theatre's equity-waiver production of Arthur Miller's enduring "Death Of A Salesman". For those who don't know, equity waiver means under 99 seats, and verrrry small spaces. Spaces so small the actors use the aisles to come and go, change scenery as they're delivering lines, and basically perform so close to the audience you can see and feel and hear every flaw. Fortunately, this production had almost none. Intelligently and ably directed by Elina de Santos, even the smallest of characters were performed incredibly by this talented troupe, proving again there are no small roles, only small actors. The four leads - Richard Fancy as patriarch, lifelong-struggling bullshitter Willie Loman, Sharron Shayne as long, almost-silently suffering matriarch Linda, and David Clayberg and Greg Vignolle as wildly different but strangely similar sons Hap and Biff, respectively - were perfectly cast and performed in what must have been Miller's vision of these people. (Unlike, in my opinion, Dustin Hoffman, who drew raves for this role, in heavy age-makeup, but was way too young for it when he did it a few years ago with not enough life under his belt). What really struck me about this performance, and it's very much to de Santos's credit this was so apparent, was the undiminishing effects of Miller's ideas. Miller could be Shakespearian in his writing and this play is the perfect example of material that should, and will, be read or at least seen, in perpetuity. A morality play with a timeless message. My only regret is the run has ended so you can't go see this production. Read it. " [Again, this review is from March...it's re-opened now until 7/23]

        

 

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