NT Live: All My Sons (14/05/19)

Jeremy Herrin's production of All My Sons promised to be thrilling and devastating, with stunning performances from Sally Field and Bill Pullman. Last night's broadcast from the Old Vic Theatre in London allowed for an intimate viewing of this grand production. My friend - who is not usually a theatre-goer - accompanied me to the show, and we agreed that the performance was excellent, as were all of its elements.

The Kellers; Bill Pullman (Joe Keller), Colin Morgan (Chris Keller), Sally Field (Kate Keller) and Jenna Coleman (Ann Deever). Photo by Johan Persson, taken from http://ntlive.nationaltheatre.org.uk/productions/ntlout33-all-my-sons

The production opened with a series of images projected onto the back of the stage, setting the scene and transporting the audience to a post-war America. The house (which would remain for the entirety of the perfomance) then glided forwards into place, and the lights came up to reveal a back garden setting. As the play was largely naturalistic, a realistic set had to be produced, and I swear you could actually live in that house, it looked so real.

I'm not usually an Arthur Miller fan, having been scarred by having to read Death of a Salesman at school, but I understand how important these plays are and why they have become modern classics. One of my favourite elements of the live broadcasts is the pre-show clip, this one being an interview with the director and creative team, in which Herrin identified just how relevant the messages in this play are today. Despite the play being set in the 1940's, the play didn't feel old fashioned or out of touch, but brought light to shocking comparisons that we can make between today's materialistic world and the aftermath of using the war for financial gain.

Despite boasting an impressive cast all around, the stand-out performances were without a doubt Sally Field (Kate) and Bill Pullman (Joe). The complexity of their marriage and what the loss of a son had done to them was made clear before Field had even entered the stage, and they bounced off each other with a perfect chemistry. During the light-hearted first act, their relationship was stereotypical and amusing, even comical at times, but the oppressive nature of their situation became clearer as the play progressed.

Unfortunately, however, I felt that Field and Pullman overshadowed the other actors. Having seen Colin Morgan (Chris) and Jenna Coleman (Annie) more recently in TV series, I expected more from them given that they were acting alongside such big names. While their performances were not bad, I didn't feel for their characters in the same way that I felt for Kate and Joe, and I think it was a lack of chemistry that let them down together. While they produced the right emotions in the right places, their performances lacked the subtleties that Field and Pullman incorporated into theirs, and so Chris and Annie's relationship felt like more of a convenience than actual love.

Overall as a production, it was fantastic - especially if you're an Arthur Miller fan already. The set was beautiful, and supporting actors provided the diversity and light comic relief that the play demands throughout. Would I go to see another Arthur Miller play? Probably. Will my friend go to another live broadcast? Definitely.