A Review of Death of a Salesman

by Gerry Roe
 
Coralville - On entering the little theatre in the Children’s Museum for Dreamwell’s production of Death of a Salesman we see a room apparently set up for a rehearsal. A table and some chairs, curtains represent doors, and that’s about it. But then the players arrive, heralded by the melancholy sounds of a solo flute, to bring the play to life, to transcend the limited physical aspects of their space, to remind us or to introduce us to the greatness of what we are about to see.

Arthur Miller’s 1949 script was awarded the Pulitzer prize and a Tony for best play of 1949. The production directed by Elia Kazan, with Lee J. Cobb and Mildred Dunnock, and an iconic two-story set by Jo Mielziner, firmly established Miller and the play as significant developments in American theatre. The role of Willy Loman has been inhabited by Dustin Hoffman, Brian Dennehy, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and hundreds of other actors in countless professional, academic, and amateur productions.

Backstage with Death of a Salesman

Mount Vernon & Coralville - Dreamwell is taking a show on the road this weekend. For the second time, they'll take a show to Mount Vernon and perform in the First Street Community Center. Last year Dreamwell brought The Whipping Man to that venue. "We didn't have a huge turnout for Whipping Man, but we feel the audience is there," said Matt Falduto, Dreamwell Theatre board president. "We just have to do a better job of getting the word out." They'll have another chance this evening as the final production of the 2014-15 season, Death of a Salesman, opens tonight for just two performances before moving to the Coralville Children's Museum for a traditional run of four performances. It stars Rip Russell as Willy Loman. We had the chance to talk to director David Pierce and two of the actors, Krista Neumann, who plays Willy's wife, Linda, and Matt Falduto, who plays their son, Biff.

What made you initially interested in directing Death of a Salesman?

David: I had decided to start becoming more involved again in the Iowa City theatre scene. I haven’t exercised my directing muscles in a long time, and when I saw that Dreamwell was looking for a director for the show, I decided to throw my hat in the ring. I was familiar with the show, of course, but didn't begin to fall in love with it until I started preparing for the director interview. As a result, I left the interview really wanting a chance to direct this play. I've been living with this play for over a year now, and in that time I've grown very close to the script and the characters.

Dreamwell Announces Cast of Death of a Salesman

Iowa City - Dreamwell Theatre has announced the cast of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, directed by David Pierce.

Willy - Rip Russell
Linda - Krista Neumann
Biff - Matthew Falduto
Happy - Brad Quinn
Charley - Duane Larson
Bernard - Ryan Morrow
Ben - Brian Tanner
The Woman - Mary Haaf-Wedemeyer
Howard - Zachary Begley
Jenny - Valerie Davine Bills
Stanley - Derek Johnson
Miss Forsythe - Erin Mills
Letta - Heather Johnson

Performances will be May 1st and 2nd at the First Street Community Center in Mt. Vernon and May 8th, 9th, 15th, 16th at the Iowa Children's Museum in the Coral Ridge Mall. Order your tickets here.

Auditions for Death of a Salesman

Iowa City - "Actors are invited to join us for auditions for Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, directed by David Pierce. Auditions will be held at the Iowa City Public Library at the following times:

Saturday, February 21, 1:00 - 4:00 pm
Monday, February 23, 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Wednesday, February 25, 6:00 - 9:00 pm

Productions will take place May 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16.