All My Sons does Miller proud at the Snug
In 1947, Americans were recovering from the tragedy of World War II and learning to accept new economic prosperity. All My Sons, written by Arthur Miller, and directed this month at The Snug Theatre by Nancy Arnfield, takes place in the tidy backyard of the Keller family, which features a comfortable home, complete with a wood swing, herbs in the window boxes and the sounds of birds chirping. The peaceful setting belies the conflict that is festering there.
The story centers on two formerly neighboring families–the Kellers and the Deevers. Joe Keller (Dennis Kleinsmith) and Steve Deever were partners in a manufacturing business, and their children grew up as close friends. George Deever (Matt Siadak), Chris Keller (Aaron Dennis Smith) and Larry Keller went off to serve in the war, and indeed Larry had planned to marry Ann Deever (the sparkling Laura Lynn Lavely) when he returned. But Larry’s plane went down, and he is now presumed dead. His unseen character continues to affect the others profoundly throughout the play.
Joe’s wife Kate is in denial about her son’s death, relying on superstition and horoscopes to fuel her belief that Larry will be found and return home, and Joe seems reluctant to shatter her fantasy. Kate, played superbly by Nancy Penvose, is the ever-dedicated mother who believes she can make everything better with some grape juice and matchmaking.
It is revealed that Joe and Steve’s manufacturing plant had knowingly delivered defective parts to the military which resulted in the deaths of 21 airmen; Steve was imprisoned for the crime but Joe was exonerated, giving the sense that there is more to the story. In fact, it is hard to dislike Joe, played convincingly by Kleinsmith as the hard-working family man who reads want ads for fun and makes “police deputies” out of neighborhood kids such as Bert (the adorable Jake Stoner). The imprisoned Steve, on the other hand, has been disowned by his family, and a new couple–the painfully domestic Dr. Jim and Sue Bayliss (Sal Rubino and Karen Durak)–now owns the house next door.
The idealistic Chris, who is now a successful partner in Joe’s business even while dealing with survivor’s guilt, states his intention to marry Ann, who seems to be the only character at peace with accepting that Larry is truly dead. (The impressive Aaron Dennis Smith as Chris convincingly “blushes” in this touching scene.) But this sparks an argument between Chris and Joe over how to gain the acceptance of Kate, who still thinks of Ann as “Larry’s girl.”
The excitement of the impending engagement begins to fall apart with the arrival of Ann’s brother George, who has become convinced that Joe is guilty and has been lying all along. His anger at the Kellers and at Ann—whom he accuses of marrying blood money—is temporarily diffused by Joe, ever-likable even when being deceitful, and by the appearance of effervescent neighbors Frank and Lydia Lubey (Kyle Burch and Michelle Lareau).
Despite this distraction, George notices an inconsistency in the story about Joe’s innocence. Even as the truth becomes clear to all, Joe never ceases justifying his actions, stating his belief that nothing is bigger than the relationship between fathers and sons, but we realize that the person he is most trying to convince is himself.
Ultimately, Joe, Chris, Kate, Ann and George must each deal with the weight of their own guilt, and their reactions reveal their true characters.
The Bottom Line: A solid and engaging performance of a complex story about deception and guilt by one of America’s greatest playwrights.