Pear Theatre presents A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE

Pear Theatre continues its season with Arthur Miller's classic, "A View from the Bridge," with timely reminders about the realities of illegal immigration, of jealousy born from fear, and the dangers of acting on self-destructive impulse. "A View from the Bridge," directed by Ray Renati, previews on March 9. Press and Opening Night is Friday, March 10, followed by a champagne gala. The show runs Thursdays through Sundays, through April 2. All performances are held at the Pear Theatre, 1110 La Avenida St., Mountain View. Tickets ($10-$35) can be purchased by visiting www.thepear.org or calling (650) 254-1148.

Set in 1950s New York in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge, "A View from the Bridge" follows Eddie and his wife Beatrice, who shelter Beatrice's orphaned niece Catherine as she studies to become a stenographer - at least, until two of Beatrice's male cousins from Italy move in. Illegal immigration, unsanctioned love affairs, and the liberty to pursue individual happiness all come under fire; and before it is over, the entire immigrant neighborhood will be hurt in ways they could not have predicted. Arthur Miller's unequaled ability to show the triumphs and pitfalls of the common man shine through clearly: loyalty to community and family, fear of the unfamiliar, and the need to recognize, understand, and control our impulsive urges.

"A View from the Bridge" began its creative life as a screenplay called "The Hook," written by Miller with assistance from Elia Kazan (who had previously directed the playwright's "All My Sons" and "Death of a Salesman"). However, coming in the age of McCarthyism, Hollywood studios feared a story about "waterfront corruption and graft" was un-American; under this criticism, Miller withdrew the script (although the basic themes would resurface in Kazan's 1954 film, "On the Waterfront").

Miller then revised his script into a one-act play, in verse, inspired by the true story of a Brooklyn dockworker who informed on two illegal immigrants. Renamed "A View from the Bridge," it was performed on Broadway in 1955, to lukewarm criticism. By limiting the show's action to the facts of the tale, with no attempt to gain audience sympathy or lead to a fuller understanding of the human condition, the play was cold and unengaging. The following year, Miller revised the play for a new London production: changing verse to prose, expanding to two acts, and developing more human and sympathetic characters. As Miller wrote in his introduction to the published revision, "Eddie Carbone is still not a man to weep over ... But it is more possible now to relate his actions to our own and thus to understand ourselves a little better, not only as isolated psychological entities, but as we connect to our fellows and our long past together."

Pear Theatre's production features Geoff Fiorito as Eddie, April Culver as Catherine, Marjorie Hazeltine as Beatrice,Anthony Stephens as Rodolpho, and Drew Reitz as Marco. The cast is rounded out with Brian Levi, Richard Holman, andAnthony Silk. The design and crew team for this production include Stage Manager, Caylyn Skoog; Lighting Designer,Meghan Souther; and Sound Designer Will Price.

Pear Theatre began as the Pear Avenue Theatre in June 2002, under the leadership of Artistic Director Diane Tasca, by a group of theatre artists who believe that audiences are eager for plays that challenge as well as delight and move them. Pear Theatre produces intimate theatre by passionate artists, whether classic works or cutting-edge plays. Now in its fifteenth season, The Pear attracts theatre artists and audience from all over the Bay Area for its award-winning and high-quality productions; and last year The Pear's ongoing commitment to excellence was recognized by the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle with the Paine Knickerbocker Award, an annual special award for a Bay Area company contributing to the high quality of theatre in the region.

Pear Theatre moved in 2015 from its original 40-seat warehouse space to a new, state-of-the-art black box theatre close by, with capacity of 75-99 seats depending on the configuration of the production. This exciting move allows The Pear to continue its tradition of intimate theatre while taking on new challenges and opportunities.

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