All My Sons : Apollo Theatre, London

Having read the 4 and 5 star reviews of Howard Davies’ production of All My Sons at the Apollo Theatre, I decided to go along to see if the show lived up to the hype : I was not disappointed.

At the heart of Arthur Miller’s drama is the Keller family, trying to re-build their lives following the disappearance of a son during the Second World War. Kate (Zoe Wanamaker), the boy’s mother, cannot, will not, believe that Larry has died, and continues to believe that one day he will return. Whilst Larry’s brother Chris (Stephen Campbell Moore), wants to marry Ann (Jemima Rooper), his brother’s former girlfriend. Joe (David Suchet), the family patriarch, acquitted of producing faulty airplane parts during the war, believes his past is forgotten, but his secret cannot be kept hidden forever.

This production was truly superb, and must be one of the best pieces of theatre I have seen. All aspects of the play; the production and the performances were fantastic.

Suchet’s performance, as the flawed everyman Joe Keller, is a tour de force; effortlessly depicting Joe’s change from the contented, self-assured family man, into a hated, self-hating man. Wanamaker’s portrayal of Kate, the woman at breaking point, due to her misguided faith that Larry will return, is fraught and emotionally charged. Although Suchet’s Joe is the stand out performance of the night, it is Wanamaker’s Kate, that gives the drama its heart, and the moments that truly touch the audience. All the other performances; Jemima Rooper’s Ann, Stephen Campbell Moore’s Chris, Daniel Lapaine’s George, are exceptional, and prove that this production has a great ensemble cast. In fact, were it not for Suchet’s extraordinary performance, you would be hard-pressed to choose the best performance of the evening.

The production itself is masterful; the set with its veranda and white picket fencing perfectly creates the soon to be shattered American Dream, the costumes complement each character beautifully, and the lighting effectively changes the mood and atmosphere on stage, and reflects the emotions of the various characters. Technical elements, such as lighting and sound are used successfully to create the storm, menacing and brooding which lies over the household.

This is a magnificent production, and thoroughly deserves all the praise it has received.