Death Of A Salesman review: outstanding Anthony LaPaglia stars in American classic at Crown Theatre Perth

Arthur Miller’s 1949 Pulitzer Prize-winning play Death Of A Salesman has gripped audiences for generations. And it will keep doing so, if it continues to be held in the creatively safe hands of directors and actors as adept as those involved in the Australian production of this American classic that opened at Crown Theatre Perth on Saturday. Much has been made of Emmy, Golden Globe and Tony Award-winning Anthony LaPaglia’s undertaking of failing salesman Willy Loman, and rightly so, given the headline role marked his Australian stage debut in Melbourne last September, before a Sydney season earlier this year. No stranger to Miller’s mastery — LaPaglia won his 1998 Tony Award for his portrayal of Eddie Carbone in the 1997 Broadway revival of Miller’s A View From The Bridge — the Adelaide-born, US based actor’s actor is truly remarkable as downtrodden Willy, grappling with a loss of identity and changing world around him, unravelling and unable to see achievement as anything less than money and status. Equally exceptional is Alison Whyte as wife Linda Loman, who delivers a commanding performance as Willy’s personal cheerleader and rock, who can only anchor her husband so far. Rounding out the core four characters in the Loman family are Josh Helman as eldest son Biff and Ben O’Toole as younger son Happy, both bringing palpable intensity. Regarded as one of the most iconic plays of the 20th century in its exploration of the pursuit of success and the post-war American dream, this production of Death Of A Salesman deeply resonates with an Australian audience during a cost of living crisis, where the dream of home ownership is an unattainable reality for many. The tragedy is a montage of visions, memories and conflict as the characters live in a cycle of denial, delving into the murky relationships that can exist between fathers and sons. Director Neil Armfield’s decision to do away with Death Of A Salesman’s often traditional naturalistic kitchen-table setting is an inspired move where, with the assistance of set designer Dale Ferguson, the epic staging features the bleachers of Ebbets Field, the location of Biff’s last great triumph. The result keeps all actors onstage throughout the duration of the play, sitting in the stadium and watching the drama unfold in front of them when not plucked to be part of the action that tears the American dream to pieces. This profound production is an emotionally charged masterpiece and theatrical masterclass in depicting our flawed humanity, just as relevant as when it was penned and delivered with sheer brilliance to standing ovation. 4.5 stars Death Of A Salesman is at Crown Theatre Perth until August 29.