From left, John Kleimo, Keven Fennell, Josh Kirwin and Elizabeth Pattey
star in EPAC's "Death of a Salesman"
There’s something
terribly wrong with Willy Loman, who has been a traveling salesman for more
than three decades. He talks to himself. He has lost confidence in himself. He
dreams about the past, and wonders aloud how he might have changed things along
the way for himself and his family.
And he’s a working
man who’s worn out.
Willy must contend
with unfamiliar faces in his present working life, and all-too-familiar ghosts
from his past that box in his mind the way newly constructed buildings have
boxed in the house where he lives with his loyal, supportive wife, Linda.
Who hasn’t felt at least
some of the things Willy is feeling as “Death of a Salesman” opens? Who hasn’t
examined his or her life – work or personal – and tried to figure out how
things might have been different for us? Who hasn’t known someone like Willy,
and been concerned for his welfare, and tried to be a supportive friend?
When the façade you
present to the world doesn’t match the person inside, it can be as exhausting
as carrying those sales valises up and down New England for thirty-something years. Just ask Willy. Or his son, Biff, who
is also in the midst of a personal, self-examining crisis during this play, which
he discusses with his younger brother, Happy.
There’s a reason
“Death of a Salesman” is a theater classic. It deals with the American dream,
capitalism, self-awareness, the relationship between parents and their adult
children, how the past informs the present and so much more. But, beyond all
that, it’s a play about a family in crisis. It will engage you, touch your
heart and make you think.
And EPAC has
assembled a marvelous cast for this production of this play – led by John
Kleimo as Willy, Elizabeth Pattey as Linda, Josh Kirwin as Biff and Kevin
Fennell as Happy. I watched a recent
rehearsal of the play, and was blown away by all the fresh, new things I
noticed about the show – which I’ve studied in many classes, seen a couple of times
on stage and watched many times in its film versions.
It’s the cast, and how
they’re approaching their roles under Michael Swanson’s direction, that taught
me so many new things about this American standard, and made me emotional to
the point of tears about the Loman family’s plight.
Whether you’ve never
seen “Death of a Salesman,” or feel as if you’ve seen it a hundred times, this
production will give you a fresh perspective on an evergreen classic; it will
grab you and not let you go. It’s a pure expression of EPAC’s mission of
presenting “Theater That Matters!”
The show runs through
Sept. 20 at the Sharadin Bigler Theatre; call 717-733-7966 for tickets, or
visit our website to order online.
EPAC extends a huge
THANK YOU to the sponsors for this show: Season Media Sponsor Blue RidgeCommunications; Show Co-Sponsor EphrataNational Bank; Opening Night Sponsors Dr. Evan and Dr. Karen Cooper; Opening Night Party Sponsors Larry and Dr.
Cindy Gessler; Individual Performance
Sponsors Karl and Marilyn Soutner; and Closing Night Sponsor PPL!
EPAC could not
present this play without you!
See you at the theater!
-- merv wright
