ALL MY SONS  by Carol Kaufman Segal

            Arthur Miller (October 15, 1915 – February 10, 2005) was an American playwright whose dramas were popular from the late 1940’s to the early 1960’s.  He also wrote some screenplays, most notably The Misfts which starred Marilyn Monroe who he later married. 

            One of Miller’s plays, All My Sons, opened on Broadway January 29, 1947.  After 328 performances it closed November 9, 1949 and won New York Drama Critics Circle Award.  This wonderful drama is being presented at the Pacific Resident Theatre in Venice with a sterling production.

            World War II began in 1939 and ended in 1945.  This play takes place in the backyard of the Keller home in the outskirts of an American town in August, 1947.  Joe Keller (Richard Fancy) runs a factory that, during the war, provided parts for fighter-planes used against the enemy.  He and his wife Kate (Terry Davis) have two sons who fought for their country during the war.  Chris (Marc Valera) came home.  Unfortunately, their eldest son Larry went missing in action and, unfortunately, Kate is certain that her son is still alive and, without a doubt, will someday come back home.

            Larry was engaged to marry Ann Deever (Amy-Helene Carlson) who moved away after his disappearance.  Chris has invited Ann to come for a visit leaving Kate quite upset when she realizes his intent is to ask Ann to marry him.  This undermines all thoughts of Larry ever coming home!  She is totally against their marriage even though Ann has accepted Chris’s proposal and admits her love for him.

            As the play progresses we learn that Joe and Ann’s father Steve were once partners in the factory and due to some parts that were installed in some aircraft that Joe told Steve to use, twenty-one Air Force pilots died.  It turned out the parts were defective and Steve ended up in prison, while Joe, who claimed he was home sick that day, was cleared.

            Suddenly Ann’s brother George (Scott Deever) shows up at the Keller home because both he and his father have heard about Ann’s intent to marry Chris and they both intend to keep it from happening.  As the plot thickens, we learn more and more about the truth of the entire story, why Ann’s family is so adamant about her becoming a part of Joe’s family even though, no matter what, she intends to marry the man she loves.  The play builds up, increasing in its intensity until its final moment.

            All My Sons is a classic.  It was made into a film in 1948, and again in 1987.  It allows for very dramatic acting, and keeps an audience’s interest throughout.  The Pacific Resident Theatre’s production is an exceptionally outstanding revival of this play.  Richard Fancy has been a member of PTR for many years.  I have seen him in a number of plays and he is one of the finest actors on our local stages.  His background also includes films and television.

            Marc Valera and Scott Jackson deserve special recognition for their performances.  However, the entire cast gives energy to this production under the direction of Elina De Santos.  Other cast members include Enzo De Angelis (Bert), Scott Sheldon/stand-in for Rick Garrison (Frank Lubey), Tania Getty (Sue Bayliss ), Jason Huber (Dr. Jim Bayliss) and Katy Downing/stand-in for Jennifer Pollono (Lydia Lubey).            

            All My Sons plays Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8 PM, Sunday at 3 PM, through November 15, with, one Saturday matinee on Nov. 16, at 3 PM.  For information and tickets call (310) 322 8392, or go online.

            HIGHLY RECOMMENDED