If you are looking for star power in London’s West End right now, look no further than the revival of Arthur Miller’s All My Sons. This production reunites actor Bryan Cranston with director Ivo Van Hove.
The biggest selling point of this production is, without a doubt, the acting. The cast is simply excellent. Bryan Cranston plays Joe Keller, a successful businessman and father who seems like the ultimate friendly neighbour. Cranston is mesmerising; he makes Joe so charming and likeable that you actually want to believe his lies. Opposite him is Marianne Jean-Baptiste as Kate Keller. She gives a heartbreaking performance as a mother clinging to the impossible hope that her missing son is still alive. You can feel her pain from the back row. Paapa Essiedu shines as the surviving son, Chris Keller. He brings a fresh energy to the role, perfectly capturing a young man torn between love for his father and his own moral compass. The supporting cast is equally strong, with Hayley Squires as Ann Deever and Tom Glynn-Carney as her brother George delivering powerful, emotional moments that ramp up the tension.
Even though this play was written over 70 years ago, it feels like it could have been written today. At its heart, it asks a question we still struggle with: What do we owe to our families, and what do we owe to the rest of the world? The deeply human characters make this dilemma feel real. You understand why Joe did what he did to save his business for his family, but you also see the terrible cost of ignoring his responsibility to society. It makes you think about your own choices long after you leave the theatre.
While the climax of the play is explosive and gripping, the journey to get there takes a little while. The first part of the play is a bit slow-paced. There is a lot of setup and casual conversation in the backyard that can feel slightly dragging before the real secrets start to come out. It requires a bit of patience from the audience to settle into the rhythm.
Despite a slow start, director Ivo Van Hove has created a stunning piece of theatre. The themes of guilt and responsibility are handled beautifully, and seeing this incredible cast interact live is worth the ticket price alone. It is a powerful, moving night out that reminds us why Arthur Miller is a legend.
It runs until 7 March. Tickets: here.
Photos: Jan Versweyveld