LEWISTON — Another classic of the stage is coming to the area’s newest theatrical venue.
Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” will be performed by Out of the Box Theater Company beginning Friday, Aug. 6, at L/A Arts’ Downstage venue.
“Plays like this are classics for a reason,” said director Linda Britt. “They have compelling characters and compelling stories.”
“Death of a Salesman” tells the story of Willy Loman, a man who is all too human in his attempts to live the American dream, and who ultimately fails.
The OOTB production features Mark Hazzard as Willy Loman and Cheryl Reynolds as his wife, Linda. Matt Delamater and Paul Menezes play their sons, Biff and Happy.
“The characters have to be well-defined for audiences, and our cast certainly accomplishes that,” Britt said.
“Mark Hazzard knows more about Willy Loman than Willy Loman knows about himself,” she said.
The play tells the story of the last 24 hours of Willy’s life, filling in the back story with flashbacks and Willy’s imaginary (“private”) conversations.
Willy, 63, is the lone remnant of a bygone culture of personality in sales and he struggles through every day. Linda gives loyal support, encouragement and love to Willy. She sees his flaws clearly, but loves him anyway.
Biff and Happy are each lost in his own way, Britt said. Neither is a source of hope for their aging parents.
Other key characters in the play are Willy’s older brother Ben (played by Stan Spilecki), appearing only in Willy’s imagination; his neighbor Charley (Gerry Therrien) and his son Bernard (Michael Litchfield); his boss Howard (John Blanchette); and the Other Woman (Pat Phillips), with Araminta Matthews as Miss Forsythe, Ellen Peters and Alice Ruvane sharing the roles of Jenny/Letta, and Ryan Dubois as Stanley.
Jackie McDonald is producer; Sue Brown, costuming director; Becca Spilecki, stage manager; Stan Spilecki, set and light designs; Michelle Washburn, lighting; Steve Mortimer, sound designer; Jeff Soifer, poster design and his photographs provide set decor; Melody Driscoll is prompter; Pat Phillips, props manager; and Rachel Morin, publicity.
“Downstage is a very flexible theater space,” Britt said. The small seating capacity challenges Britt to come up with innovative staging solutions. For the recent production of “Mrs. Smith Goes To Washington” traditional seating was provided in front of the slightly elevated stage. Her prize-winning production of “Medea” was presented in the round several months ago; and for “Death of a Salesman,” the stage is at the other end.
The set for this show is in the basement of a two-story house. In order to make effective use of the space, Britt said the stage is reversed from its usual position at the end of the hall. Audience members will enter the lobby and then pass through the show’s set to reach their seats.
Because much of the show is in Willy’s imagination and memory, it’s not necessary to make physical scene changes, Britt explained. “It is meant to flow from scene to scene and connect reality to the past,” she said. “The words and emotions are powerful enough to do that.”
Go and do
WHAT: “Death of a Salesman”
WHO: Out of the Box Theater Company
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 6, 7 and 13-14; and 2 p.m. Aug. 8 and 15
TICKETS: $10, call 782-7228; seating is limited.
NOTE: The entrance to L/A Arts’ Downstage venue is from Canal Street Alley. Parking is available at the Camden National Bank lot, 110 Canal St., Lewiston.
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- Mark Hazard portrays Willy Loman in the Out of the Box Theater’s production of “Death of a Salesman.”
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