Special Coverage Golden Globes'Twilight' CentralAmerican IdolThe Must ListHoliday Movies
  • --

Credits

Lead Performances: Samantha Mathis and Chris O'Donnell; Writer: Arthur Miller

This new production of Arthur Miller's first play -- unseen on Broadway since a shockingly short four-day run in 1944 -- is a near total triumph. Not only does it augur the passion and moral weight of Miller's classic Death of a Salesman, it's propelled by the high-gear urgency of youth. Set in the sun-drenched Midwest of the 1930s, the plot concerns a young mechanic (a heartbreakingly earnest Chris O'Donnell) who's blessed with seamless good fortune -- booming business, beloved wife, beautiful house -- while those around him flounder. Miller's inspiration is to have his hero grow increasingly, dangerously paranoid during the play's three acts, as he waits for fate to drop the other shoe. While Act 3 sacrifices clarity to callow histrionics, the play never ceases to matter. It delves deeply into the notion of American promise -- and no one understands the crushing weight of that promise like Miller.


Sign up for EW.com's The 25 newsletter!

Stay in the know and get EW.com's top 5 stories, 5 days a week (sent weekday afternoons).
Posted May 17, 2002
  • Print
  • Del.icio.us
  • Google
  • StumbleUpon
  • Facebook
  • Digg
  • More
 

Add Your Comments

The rules: Keep it clean, and stay on the subject or we might delete your comment. If you see inappropriate language, e-mail us. You must have javascript enabled to submit a comment.
--
Change/Edit your grade
characters remaining

Copyright © 2008 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved.