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In the aftermath of World War Il, two families struggle to come to terms with the brutal reality of what they have lost and gained.
Joe and Kate Keller have two sons. Chris, who has retumed battle-scarred from the war, and Larry, who was missing in action, presumed dead. Kate's refusal to accept Larry's death threatens conflict within the family, when Chris brings home 'Larry's girl', Ann, in order to announce his own engagement to her. Joe considers the protection of his family and his hard-earned business, to be all-important. However, his son Chris's recent raw experiences on the battlefield and the consequent loss of his men, mean he has a very different outlook on life, morals, honesty and ethics. The confrontations that ensue lead to the uncovering of a shameful family secret. Provocative and heart-breaking, All My Sons is a compelling story of love, guilt and the corrupting power of greed. It is one of the true classic plays of the 20th Century. All My Sons was first performed on 29th January 1947 and ran for 348 performances. A year later, it was made into a Hollywood film starring Edward G Robinson and Burt Lancaster. |
What the papers think...
Arthur Miller’s powerful 1947 drama is a superlative play, here superbly handled by the Fylde Coast Players.
The action of the play, with a flawed protagonist and the action on a single day, is reminiscent of a classical Greek tragedy. The leading characters recount, often in soliloquy, the events which have led two neighbouring American families to conflict and then open confrontation. The cast of ten all do this exceptionally.
Andy Cooke, as flawed businessman Joe Keller, grows into the role, particularly in the dramatic scenes with his idealistic son Chris, beautifully played by Richie Withers, when his guilty secret is revealed.
Rosie Withers, as wife Kate, combines vocal mastery with subtleties of posture and gesture – notably when she finally accepts that her missing airman son Larry is dead. She knows that Joe is responsible and her make-believe world and the American dream come crashing down.
Felicity Morgan, the messenger figure in the story and the pivot between the two families, excels.
Poppy Flanagan’s clear direction recognises the importance of unfolding the back story vividly and her placing of the actors sometimes literally head to head enhances the seismic conflict.
The sizeable audience was silent throughout, gripped with the tension of a first class play, memorably performed.
Julian Wilde
The action of the play, with a flawed protagonist and the action on a single day, is reminiscent of a classical Greek tragedy. The leading characters recount, often in soliloquy, the events which have led two neighbouring American families to conflict and then open confrontation. The cast of ten all do this exceptionally.
Andy Cooke, as flawed businessman Joe Keller, grows into the role, particularly in the dramatic scenes with his idealistic son Chris, beautifully played by Richie Withers, when his guilty secret is revealed.
Rosie Withers, as wife Kate, combines vocal mastery with subtleties of posture and gesture – notably when she finally accepts that her missing airman son Larry is dead. She knows that Joe is responsible and her make-believe world and the American dream come crashing down.
Felicity Morgan, the messenger figure in the story and the pivot between the two families, excels.
Poppy Flanagan’s clear direction recognises the importance of unfolding the back story vividly and her placing of the actors sometimes literally head to head enhances the seismic conflict.
The sizeable audience was silent throughout, gripped with the tension of a first class play, memorably performed.
Julian Wilde
ALL MY SONS by ARTHUR MILLER
FYLDE COAST PLAYERS
LOWTHER PAVILION, LYTHAM
Set in the aftermath of the War in America, Arthur Miller’s iconic play has stood the test of time because it confronts realities we all face whatever the era, of trust and honour, guilt and innocence.
Andy Cooke was excellent as Joe Keller, owner of a successful business making parts for planes. However, during the War, faulty engine parts from their factory killed 21 airmen and his then partner, Steve, was sent to jail while Joe was exonerated.
Joe went on to make his fortune, aided by his son, Chris (Richie Withers), who joined the company after leaving the Air Force after the War.
Rosie Withers gave a superb performance as Joe’s wife, Kate. who refuses to believe that their other son, Larry, was killed in the War and is horrified when his fiancée, Ann (Felicity Morgan), turns up on their doorstep with the intention of marrying Chris (Richie Withers). Nonetheless the couple are adamant they will marry as they are sure Larry is dead.
When Ann’s brother George (Tim Withers) arrives, he claims it was Joe who was equally responsible for the pilots deaths and he allowed Steve (George’s father) to take the blame. Both families are torn apart by the revelation. A pattern of deceit, guilt and corruption emerges but is it true? If so, what devastating effect will it have on both families?
Tim Greenwood and Debbie Couchman played next door neighbours, Jim and Sue Bayliss, while Matthew Eaton and Emily Cartmell were family friends, Jim and Lydia Lubey. Leo Heavyside made a lively Bert, a young boy who lived in the neighbourhood.
Director Poppy Flanagan and her cast deserve great praise for putting on a tremendous piece of theatre that would not have been out of place on the West End stage.
This was a production which had the audience riveted from the opening line right through to the final curtain. It was a pleasure to watch an intelligent play so well performed.
REVIEW BY RON ELLIS
Andy Cooke was excellent as Joe Keller, owner of a successful business making parts for planes. However, during the War, faulty engine parts from their factory killed 21 airmen and his then partner, Steve, was sent to jail while Joe was exonerated.
Joe went on to make his fortune, aided by his son, Chris (Richie Withers), who joined the company after leaving the Air Force after the War.
Rosie Withers gave a superb performance as Joe’s wife, Kate. who refuses to believe that their other son, Larry, was killed in the War and is horrified when his fiancée, Ann (Felicity Morgan), turns up on their doorstep with the intention of marrying Chris (Richie Withers). Nonetheless the couple are adamant they will marry as they are sure Larry is dead.
When Ann’s brother George (Tim Withers) arrives, he claims it was Joe who was equally responsible for the pilots deaths and he allowed Steve (George’s father) to take the blame. Both families are torn apart by the revelation. A pattern of deceit, guilt and corruption emerges but is it true? If so, what devastating effect will it have on both families?
Tim Greenwood and Debbie Couchman played next door neighbours, Jim and Sue Bayliss, while Matthew Eaton and Emily Cartmell were family friends, Jim and Lydia Lubey. Leo Heavyside made a lively Bert, a young boy who lived in the neighbourhood.
Director Poppy Flanagan and her cast deserve great praise for putting on a tremendous piece of theatre that would not have been out of place on the West End stage.
This was a production which had the audience riveted from the opening line right through to the final curtain. It was a pleasure to watch an intelligent play so well performed.
REVIEW BY RON ELLIS
The family that acts together stays together….
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Long time member of Fylde Coast Players and a NODA Best Actress Award winner, Rosie Withers has been in more plays than she can remember. But her next play is very different and one she will remember for many years to come. For the first time she will be treading the boards, not just with her son Richie, but also with her son Tim and by way of a happy coincidence they will all star together in Fylde Coast Players’ production of Arthur Millers classic play ‘All My Sons’. |
Whilst Rosie has directed Richie in two recent Fylde Coast Players productions – ‘Billy Liar’ and ‘Great Expectations’ this will be the first time they have acted together in main roles as, you’ve guessed it, mother and son. The first time Rosie was on stage with Tim he was only 5 years old and he played Tiny Tim in Fylde Coast Players production of ‘A Christmas Carol’.
So, how does it feel to be working together? ‘It’s very comfortable being on stage with my sons’, said Rosie, ‘it’s actually very reassuring. In my scenes with Richie, who plays my son Chris in the play, and the scenes with Tim, who plays my surrogate son, George, the emotions are completely natural – I don’t have to act. We can also help each other learning the lines. We’re all enjoying the rehearsals and looking forward to the performance in March.’
So, how does it feel to be working together? ‘It’s very comfortable being on stage with my sons’, said Rosie, ‘it’s actually very reassuring. In my scenes with Richie, who plays my son Chris in the play, and the scenes with Tim, who plays my surrogate son, George, the emotions are completely natural – I don’t have to act. We can also help each other learning the lines. We’re all enjoying the rehearsals and looking forward to the performance in March.’
Below are pictures of the cast starting to get to grips with their parts under the eagle eye of award winning director Poppy Flanagan.
