Theatre
Miller ime
This month, the Lyceum revives Arthur Miller’s All My Sons. Steve Cramer talks to lead actors Kathryn Howden and Crossroads star Stuart Milligan about it.
Steve Cramer The play tells the story ol Joe. at tnan who. dttring the Second World War. has okay ed lattlty engine parts lot bombers. .'\s a result. many airtnan. including one oi his sons. hayc died. He has escaped justice. bttt his attempts to establish a nortnal lamily lite haye broken down. Does this tell its something about the way capitalism impinges on our priyate liycs. thottgh we try to deny this. creating a lalsc diyidc between pttblic and priyatc lil‘e'.’
Stuart Milligan :\s an American I don't see it that way. bttt that doesn't mean that’s not part ol~ what Miller was saying. I think prolit it'ottt war is always a tricky one. \Vc‘ye been talking a lot abottt this in rehearsals. and certainly. during the war. l‘ortuncs were tnadc. and there were a lot oi bttllcts that didn‘t go ol'l‘. guns that esploded and engines that blew tip. etc. Some people say there was a lot ol‘ guilt at the end ol~ the Second World War. bttt I don‘t think so. It was an argument that we won that we cottld hayc lost. Kathryn Howden I think when l lirst read it. as an actress. I didn‘t think ‘()h. this is a political play '1 it‘s about the characters. It seems so simple. bttt it says so much it’s a huge play. and you can do it today with as tnttch rcleyancc as eyer.
SM All My Suns is an early play the masterpieces we know butt for were yet to cotnc. But it was a huge hit. I think this was because it hit at l‘amily mythologics. this extraordinary need to deny. to moye on. not to talk about it. to moye onto another subject when someone comes into the room. The desire to
74 THE LIST -'- Jr
IT'S A HUGE PLAY AND YOU CAN DO IT TODAY WITH AS MUCH RELEVANCE AS EVER
hang onto the normality of the l'amily at all costs -
eyentually that costs eycrything.
SC So what‘s the secret ol‘ the play's great power'.’
KH li\ en the l'lawed characters. yott understand thetn cyen .loc. You tend to say to yourself. ‘(iod. there
bttt for the (irace of (iod‘. you know. It's sell‘
deception. I don't think in his head he belieyed someone would die li'ottt the decision he took. lle‘s doing this thing where as long as the l‘amily’s okay. I'm okay. We all do that at titnes.
SC But is there a political subtext'.’
SM There‘s this point where we lime to say it‘s ottr
lault. I mean. I yote; a lot ol‘Amcricatts don‘t. But it
you want to say something about Iraq. you’ye got to get inyolyed. What strikes tne is that at this time there really were people waiting l‘or people to come home. and people who had been waiting for peace. It‘s not the same now. I mean we’re at war now. bttt it's getting more real and it is tnore real when we see this woman l'rom Texas. who’s mad she’s lost her son. and she’s not going away. for all the politicians and media trying to shttt her up.
KH But it‘s important to retnetnber that there's a lot of genttine [me in this lamily. I mean we‘ye got a remaining son who‘s looked tip to his lather all his lil'e how easy is it for hitn to belieye his lather has done this thing'.’ As long as the he goes on. he‘s okay.
SM Yes. I think it's about low.
Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh, Fri 12 Jan-Sat 10 Feb
Hit
THE BEST THEATRE & DANCE
>i<
* Hansel and Gretel The age old folk tale is brought to panto-life with the Dundee Rep ensemble firing on all cylinders with lots of laughs and a quietly moving denouement. Dundee Rep, until Sat 6 Jan.
* All My Sons Arthur Miller’s classic at the Lyceum is directed by John Dove, whose Death of a Salesman garnered such acclaim two years ago. The story of a man who made a commercial decision that led to the loss of many lives, and the consequences to his family in post war USA, this is a moving and politically very insightful drama. Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, Fri 72 Jan-Sat 70 Feb.
* Cinderella The King’s celebrates its 100th anniversary with this delightful piece of frippery featuring those two old hands. Andy Gray and Allan Stewart. Expect groan-making punnery and fun for the children. King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, until Sun 21 Jan.
* Wullle Whittington The Tron’s enjoyable pastiche for young and old is on again, this time set in parodic pantoland. Complete with song, dance and plenty of off colour jokes. it‘s a boo-hiss affair from end to end. Tron Theatre, Glasgow, until Sun 7 Jan.
* Aladdin Gerard Kelly is back with this treat from the King’s in Glasgow. The familiar mystical tale of Middle Eastern adventure is livened up by some good comic performances from the likes of Staphen McNicoll. Julie Wilson Nimmo and Gavin Mitchell. King ’3 Theatre, Glasgow, until Sat 13 Jan.