Cast

Synopsis

The central character is a longshoreman of limited intelligence and articulacy but is also loyal and caring. Into his family home come two illegal immigrant cousins of his wife, one of whom falls in love with his niece. The stage is set for tragedy.

Directors Notes

My first experience of this play was when I saw a professional production a few years ago. I had not read the play and up until then my knowledge of Miller was fairly limited. Through inexperienced eyes two things really struck me. Firstly, although set in the 1950s this play packs a powerful political punch for today as it touches on issues associated with illegal immigration. Rights and wrongs are not explored – it is taken as read that folk take risks to escape poverty and seek out a better life. However, the play does show how descendants of immigrant families become an integral part of society whilst maintaining their own cultural values. It also touches on the role of the ‘gangmaster’, moving people from country to country and ensuring they have sufficient work until their debt’ is paid. In addition it links marriage with immigration showing how a wedding – whether ‘of convenience’ or “for love’ – can become a crucial passport to a new world. The second thing that struck me is just how ‘real’ the plot and characters are. Miller said ‘a play ought to make sense to common-sense people’ and it does! You can understand why the characters act the way they do! How many times have you said to yourself you are blowing it up out of all proportion!? Someone says or does something and you ‘read into it’ a suspicious or unkind motive that you take to heart! Sometimes suspicions are well founded, but on occasions, you are left with a worm in your heart that nibbles away – until you deal with it! Maybe you take the person to task and clear the air’ or you choose to ignore them. It’s as though a chasm has opened and each of you are at opposite sides of a bridge. Often a respected friend will stand by watching on the sidelines, helpless! Whilst nothing has really happened, there has been a shift and everyone knows that things have changed. In this play, we see what happens when the worm of suspicion enters the heart of a respected and well-loved man, Eddie Carbone. He tries to maintain his integrity and sense of responsibility as the worm of obsession nibbles away at his heart. The resultant mental anguish leads Eddie to consider an act so cataclysmic that it not only threatens to destroy his own life and the lives of those precious to him but also to challenge the unspoken law and code of honour that binds him to his Sicilian immigrant community. His respected adviser Alfieri stands by watching from the sidelines, helpless! Alfieri watches the chasm opening and waits with alarm! Whether or not it’s your first experience of this play I hope it packs a punch’ for you and that it gives you food for thought after the performance is over.