The fine line between family and war
Eury Chang, The Peak

All My Sons is a play set in post World War Two era revolving around the members of the Keller family, who send their sons off as fighter pilots. The story is centered on dark elements of hidden truths, betrayal and familial bonds that are either maintained or broken. In this production, family values and kinship are hit home.

Martha Henry plays the part of the head strong Kate Keller, the wife of businessman Joe Keller and mother of a deceased airplane pilot. She is unable to believe that he is dead. This denial is crippling her, and her family struggles to move forward from the past. Henry's portrayal of Kate is so realistic that at times, I was reminded of similar people I know. Her versatility is captivating, as she plays a strong matriarch with edgy qualities.

On the flip-side, veteran actor Norman Browning plays Joe Keller, a self-made business man who manufactured airplane parts for the war. The character of Joe Keller is complex, and Browning carries him through the night with seaming ease. Browning manages to juxtapose the stubbornness of Keller with his underlying vulnerability. As the show progresses, we find out that Joe Keller did indeed refuse to pull defective airplane parts off of the assembly line in order to keep his business going. We also see Keller justify this by saying that he did it for his family.

Playwright Arthur Miller also knows how to set off his drama with lighter moments. For this reason, Miller writes to Frank Lubey, a quirky neighbour who has too much to say. At times, actor Camyar Chai brings in necessary comedic relief. His portrayal of Lubey is offbeat, and physically intricate. This adds another layer to the otherwise thick script and serious content.

Last but not least, Jeffrey Renn plays Chris Keller with a determined fire that never seems to falter. Chris Keller is the brother of the deceased air pilot, and decides to marry his brother's old sweetheart. Not only is he faced with the underlying guilt of doing so, he must convince his mother that his brother is indeed dead. To complicate things, Chris Keller doesn't believe that his father is guilty of such deception and faulty business practices that killed many air pilots. Actor Jeffrey Renn's portrayal of a son coming to grips with reality is both riveting and spine-chilling.

As a director, John Cooper brings out the sensitive moments of the play with tact. Cooper knows that such a long script has ebbs and flows, and he maintains the right amount of balance in the three act play. Tonight, the show started off slowly, and the pacing seemed to drag on somewhat. However, the shorter second and third acts were more captivating than the first hour. This may have been the intent of the playwright, who had much to say in three hours.

The design of the Keller house, by Pam Johnson, was grand yet homely. Complete with a large patio and swinging chair, it is typical of what one may expect from suburban America. The shrubbery was symbolic, and one particular tree was planted in memory of the Keller's lost son.

In All My Sons, we are taken on a journey thats genuine and thought-provoking. Miller's strong narration brings us towards what we don't want to believe. The Keller family represents perhaps a hidden part in all of us. We learn that values and relationships can change in the face of adversity. Most of all, we realize that in trying to reach our goals and find the truth, we sometimes hurt the ones around us. When asked why this is relevant today, actor Camyar Chai says without reserve, "this play is about our aims and weapons and destruction...and our relationship to war." After the September 11 attacks in the U.S., perhaps we should think about our own involvement in war, in our families and in our society.

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