TEXT OF REVIEW

Great plays stay relevant, no matter the time or setting, or even subject matter. It could be a castle in Denmark in medieval times, a diner in Pittsburgh’s Hill District in the 1960s, a cramped Chicago apartment in the 1950s, a shabby dacha in Tsarist Russia, or even Central Park during the AIDS crisis.

Or it could be 1947, Just after World War II, in the backyard of a house in an Ohio town, as is the case with “All My Sons” by Arthur Miller, the classic play that gave the playwright his first success in the theatre, and is now seen in a brilliant and unforgettable production at Berkeley Rep through March 22nd.

Joe Keller is the successful owner of an appliance company, having made his money on government contracts during the war years, it’s the American dream come true. Joe’s wife Kate refuses to believe their son Larry died three years ago after being reporting missing in action. Their other son Chris came back from the war changed, along with a sense of ethics that is heartening and sometimes terrifying. Into their lives and the lives of their neighbors returns their former neighbor Annie Deever, who had been Larry’s girlfriend but now has changed her focus to Chris, who wants to marry her.

All My Sons touches on so many relevant issues today. The horror of war, the immorality of capitalism, government pressure on business, and the emptiness of the American dream. The play delves into father-son relationships, the nature of grief, the personal effect of war, of ambition, and most emphatically  the places where ethics and love run up against each other as if enemies.

Though the plot’s outlines are based on a real news story, the play’s stance toward capitalism and corruption brought Miller to the attention of HUAC. Corruption and Republican politics have a long and sordid history.

Leading the cast are Jimmy Smits and his real life partner Wanda de Jesus as Joe and Kate, their chemistry visible and dynamic in every scene they’re together, two top performers at the peak of their powers. One can single out every other actor in the cast as well and It’s a dream ensemble.

Director David MendizAbal has styled this as the story of a Puerto Rican family, leading to a cast largely consisting of people of color. Puerto Ricans were a visible group in Ohio at the time, also seeking the American Dream. It adds a new wrinkle, and it works.

This memorable production of All My Sons only runs through March 22nd.  It is must-see theatre. For more information you can go to berkeleyrep.org. I’m Richard Wolinsky on Bay Area theatre for KPFA.

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