The Price

Nahal Sarshar
Homework #7 The play, The Price, directed by Garry Hynes and written by Arthur Miller offers a great presentation not only with its stage production, but with its acting as well. This play not only surpassed my standards, but from what I saw, surpassed many other people’s too. The play portrays a life of two estranged brothers finally coming together after sixteen years in hopes to amend what has happened in the past. Garry Hynes and the cast of the play presents a remarkable performance at the Music Center in Downtown Los Angeles, bringing Arthur Miller’s creation to life. The play starts out with Victor Franz (Sam Robards) walking into an attic filled with his family’s old furniture, awaiting a visit from a furniture dealer. As Victor waits, he takes in the surroundings around him and gives us a moment of silence before any conversation or lines are said. Matt Saunder’s set is designed with an aura that makes us actually feel like we are in an attic of an old family home. All the furniture is stacked on top of one another and the spaces in-between leaves room for the actors to walk around. The center of the stage includes an old arm-chair, beautiful harp, and a dusty old record-player all illuminated by a lamp. The lights set up is not too dim, yet not too bright, helping us focus the attention on the actors and their surroundings. The set will soon welcome three different characters including Victor’s brother, Walter (John Bedford Lloyd), who he has not seen in sixteen years. The play continues when Esther Franz (Kate Burton) arrives and provides us with background information on Victor and his life. They get in small arguments over Victor’s current occupation and the future bargaining of the furniture. Victor is currently a police officer and is at the point where he is too old to go back to school. He has no anticipation to start something new in his life because he believes that that it is too late and that there is no point. Esther explains that she is tired of living the life she lives now and insists that they need to start something new and make more money. After small conversation between Victor and Esther, Gregory Solomon (Alan Mandell), the eighty-nine-year-old furniture dealer, finally arrives on set. Although Solomon is an old fragile man, he may be the funniest character in Miller’s play. Mandell offers a sense of humor to the play which no other character could compare to. The small, old, man may bring off a shaky presence, however, he carries so much confidence and molds the play into the amazing performance it is. Solomon’s character had an unconscious sense of humor and Mandell expressed that by keeping the audience laughing throughout the play. As Victor attempts to get a price for all the old furniture, Solomon continuously tries to put off the number as much as possible until they are both surprised by an unexpected visitor. The second act opens up with Walter (John Bedford Lloyd) and Victor shaking hands, finally reuniting after sixteen years. The audience anticipates to see what will happen next with these two estranged brothers. Victor was a student hoping to continue his college studies, however, he got caught up in helping his father during his bankruptcy and his time of need. His brother, Walter, on the other hand, carried on with his studies and ended up becoming a very successful surgeon. At this point in the play, we have a sense of sympathy towards Victor because of his loyalty towards his father. However, we see Walter as a man who does not care about anyone but himself, leaving his father and brother to do what he wants. Victor asked for a $500 loan from Walter to help with his tuition fee, however, his brother refused. Walter left leaving Victor to take care of their father who already had $4000 saved up. Walter explained to Victor that it was his choice to quit and take care of their father and he is now taking it out on him. Both Walter and Victor paid a price

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