'Death of a Salesman' opens at Dover
Few American plays enjoy the reputation of "Death of a Salesman." Arthur Miller's drama has been held up as a classic, and some critics consider Willy Loman the modern equivalent of the fatally flawed protagonists of Greek tragedy.
Claire Bochenek knows those arguments. But right now, she is doing her best to undercut them.
Bochenek is directing "Death of a Salesman" in a production at Dover Little Theatre that opens tonight and runs through March 28.
"We're trying to make this personal, rather than making it an iconic piece," says Bochenek, a resident of Flanders. "I want people to find different ways to relate to these characters."
"This is a tragedy," Bochenek says. "But it's a tragedy that begins with small gestures that the characters make on a daily basis. And those gestures snowball."
"Death of a Salesman" follows Willy Loman, played at Dover by Bob Scarpone of Flanders. Willy's reliance on platitudes (such as the importance of being "well liked") and his misguided interpretation of the American Dream are tearing him apart.
Willy's plight affects his family. His older son Biff (Michael Reddin of Totowa) drifts in and out of jobs. Younger son Happy (Michael Jay of Great Meadows) is a cad. Desperately trying to preserve the family is Linda (Ginny S. Loggins of Bloomfield).
Linda Loman memorably sums up her devotion to Willy: "He's not the finest character that ever lived. But he's a human being, and a terrible thing is happening to him. So attention must be paid."
Because "Death of a Salesman" is a memory play, Willy's past and present collide on the stage. He is particularly haunted by his older brother Ben (George Fear of Mt. Arlington), who achieved a financial success of the kind that has eluded Willy.
For Scarpone, Willy's tragedy lies in his self-deception. "The biggest client who buys his story is himself," he says.
"The things Willy has right in front of him are priceless," Scarpone says. "He has a wife who loves him and sons who worship him. He's skilled with his hands. He has all this, but what does he do? He tries to make his way as a salesman."
"Willy fights nobly for a cause that is lost from the get-go," Scarpone adds. "He has two sons who grew up exactly as he raised them, but he can't understand what they act the way they do. He is constantly making excuses."
Scarpone realizes that Willy Loman is one of the towering roles in American drama. The part has been assayed by such worthies as Lee J. Cobb, Frederic March, George C. Scott, Dustin Hoffman, Brian Dennehy, and Philip Seymour Hoffman.
"I've tried to avoid looking at anybody else since I was cast," says Scarpone. He adds that Bochenek has been working with him and with the other cast members to, as he puts it, "dig deeply into the characters."
Bochenek says that this production of "Death of a Salesman" will be scaled-down, at least on the surface. "We're going for a minimalist set," she says. "The focus is going to be on the characters and on the text."
In this way, the setting of Dover Little Theatre – which only seats about 100 people – is ideal for their purposes, according to Scarpone.
"Doing this play in a small theater is helpful," he says. "The audience is close to the actors. They can see the body language and every facial expression."
That immediacy and intimacy should serve to touch the audience, Bochenek says. "The humanity of the characters is worth noting. What Willy faces is a cautionary tale."
'DEATH OF A SALESMAN'
WHAT: Arthur Miller's tragedy, considered one of the pinnacles of 20th Century American drama, spotlights Willy Loman's blind pursuit of the American Dream and the way that pursuit has poisoned the relationships around him.
WHEN: Tonight through March 28. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. This Sunday, March 15, however, the performance will be at 5 p.m.
WHERE: Dover Little Theatre, 69 Elliott St., Dover
TICKETS: $17. Discount for groups of 10 or more
INFORMATION: 973-328-9202 or www.doverlittletheatre.org