BWW Reviews: ALL MY SONS at Irish Classical Theatre

BRILLIANT CAST SHINES IN MILLER'S AMERICAN TRAGEDY

Arthur Miller is recognized as one of America's most brilliant and prolific playwrights and his 1947 American tragedy, ALL MY SONS, is receiving a thoughtful and often gut wrenching production at the Irish Classical Theatre.

Set in the years immediately after World War II, Miller's masterpiece unfolds in a typical rural America town. Here middle class families are coping with the psychological effects that are a result of the tragic loss of family members, as well as the struggles of those who returned from the war. Miller always places strong family values front and center, but pie in the sky Utopian ideals often are unrealistic and family secrets often serve to unravel outward impressions.

Patriarch Joe Keller (Peter Palmisano) and wife Kate (Josie DiVincenzo) have one son MIA for over three years, while younger son Chris (Anthony Alcocer) has returned to join the family business. Meanwhile Chris has secretly fallen in love with the girlfriend of his missing brother, Annie (Candice Kogut).

ICTC has assembled as strong a cast as one could wish for. Alcocer is giving the performance of a lifetime as the soldier who suffers from what would now be called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. His multilayered and nuanced performance as the obedient but troubled son was fascinating to watch, and his emotional breakdown with his father in ACT 2 was shockingly honest and believable, yet frightening in it's intensity. Palmisano builds as the family sage to a man broken down by his own aspirations for his family and ultimately his own ruin. His despair to always do what was right for his family was palpable, and while honorable, cracks in his façade grow stronger as the evening progresses. His emotion filled performance anchored the strong drama.

Meanwhile Ms. DiVincenzo was the epitome of an American Midwestern no-nonsense wife. Her resilience and underlying despair were evident, although she too was suffering from the loss of her son. Her short stature helped embody a woman whose actions and words could more than make up for her slight frame.

Ms. Kogut was the blonde beauty with whom both of the Keller boys fell in love. Her naivete built to confusion and bewilderment as we learn that her father has been jailed for an error at Mr. Keller's factory that sent out faulty parts for US war planes. The resulting death of 21 soldiers has plagued both families, but Joe Keller was exonerated while her father is still jailed. Her brother George is expertly played by Buffalo actor Chris Kelly. George has left the area to become a NY lawyer, but a recent visit to his ailing father in jail sparks a return trip to his hometown. Kelly's angst filled performance was the perfect instigation to set off a series of events that could derail both families plans for the future.

The supporting characters helped to elucidate how the war had potentially ruined the fabric of America, where even the Doctor and his wife were somewhat miserable in their lives trajectories. John Profeta as Dr. Bayliss was unhappy in his career and his marriage, while his wife Sue (deftly played by Lisa Vitrano) resented anyone who disrupted her plan for the perfect family life, especially the haughty Kellers who lived next door. Meanwhile Rich Kraemer as Frank and his wife Lydia, played by Kristen Bentley, were the young couple who married for no great reason and were enveloped in the lives of their 3 babies, but otherwise had no greater aspirations. Child actor Ayden Herreid was full of energy and excitement as the neighbor Bert.

Simple sets and smart lighting by Brian Cavanagh helped evoke the 1940's, in addition to the lovely period costumes by Dixon Reynolds. Greg Natale has directed the piece with stylish grace, while allowing the large playing area to remain open and expansive. The focus of the piece was the entrance to the Keller's home, and interestingly the entire play takes place in their yard, outdoors, for everyone to see and hear. Secrets would be hard to keep in this neighborhood, and indeed may are not truly kept. The emotional climaxes at the end of Act 2 and 3 are never played for melodrama, but constitute reality in it's truest form being expertly played out front and center. Such an evening of theatre should not be missed.

Performances will take place at The Andrews Theatre, the home of the Irish Classical Theatre Company, 625 Main Street, Buffalo, Friday, January 15 through Sunday, February 7, 2016. Performances are Thursday through Saturday at 7:30PM with matinees on Saturday at 3PM and Sunday at 2PM.

Single tickets are $43 each. Student tickets, with a valid student ID, are $20 each. The first Saturday matinee of the run, Saturday, January 16, is Pay-As-You-Can.

More information and tickets:

By Phone: (716) 853-ICTC (4282)

Online 24/7: www.irishclassicaltheatre.com

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