Forget your preconceived notions of Death of a Salesman, the Grand Theatre’s production of Arthur Miller’s exploration of the American dream and family will not be what you remember from high school English class.
Like all good literature, Death of a Salesman grows with you. Themes emerge for every age, and there is enough meat in the script to chew on for several meals.
What may be most surprising is how relevant the play still is. From a boomerang child to the family dynamics the only thing that may have changed, if the play were written today, is that the Loman’s would lose their house.
It is clear throughout the first part of the play that the strength of the writing carries it. In the second half, it was hard to tell if the scene was just really well played, or if it was the power of Miller’s script that was sweeping the audience along.
This may well be the ultimate tribute to any actor because it is the actor’s job not to get you to notice how well he or she is acting, but to get you to believe that he or she is the person on the stage.
Even if you think you know the play, it is time to revisit it, and the Grand is the best place to do so. Death of a Salesman runs through March 23, and Salt Lake Community College students get in free with their OneCard.
