Margaret Miller

Directing I
February 22, 2015

Production Response: All My Sons

On Thursday, February 12, I saw Louisiana State University
Theatres production of Arthur Millers All My Sons, directed by Jane
Page. The play takes place in the wake of World War II and centers
around a fairly affluent family, the Kellers, who are simultaneously
struggling to come to terms with the past and build a future. As the
play progresses, we learn that the father, Joe, has been harboring a
secret that shatters the illusions the family has, knowingly and
unknowingly, upheld.
A unifying principle that applies to this production of All My Sons
is: To secure the family. Every character in this play is, in one way or
another, struggling to secure family ties. Chris Keller, Joe and Kates
son, endeavors to secure a wife in Ann, his missing brothers ex-fianc,
with the approval of his parents. Likewise, Ann, eager to marry Chris,
is trying to secure a family of her own. Both seek to put the painful
past behind them and place their investment in the future. Kate Keller,
the matriarch of the Keller family, tries to secure her family both
mentally and physically. Kate is unable to accept that her missing son,
Larry, is dead. Symbolized by the tree in his memory, she tries to keep
Larry alive and hope alive as she awaits his return in vain. She is also

the only other person in the family that knows that her husband, Joe,
authorized defective plane parts to be shipped out to the war. To keep
her family together, she keeps his secret to prevent his imprisonment.
Joe Keller, the patriarch of the family, goes to the furthest extremes in
an effort to secure his family. He betrayed his friend and business
partner, ordering him to send the flawed parts out to the war,
consequently killing twenty-one soldiers, in an effort to stay in business
and keep his family financially secure. Page utilizes this unifying
principle to convey the conflict one faces between duty to ones family
and duty to ones fellow human beings. Where is the line drawn
between brotherhood of the nuclear family and the brotherhood of
men?
One stage picture Page creates that conveys the unifying
principle is the moment where Chris and Ann discuss their marriage
downstage right juxtaposed with the broken tree in Chris memory
downstage left. The broken tree helps illustrate the fact that hope in
Larrys return has faded and conveys where loyalties lie. Chris and
Ann, while honoring Larry, realize the reality of the situation and want
to secure a new family for themselves.
Another tableau Page creates that supports the unifying principle
is the moment that Chris and Kate stand, devastated, in front of the
house as they come to terms with the truth revealed about Larrys
suicide, Joes confession of guilt, and Joes suicide. The security and

unity that the family has worked so hard to attain has been shattered.
Joes very strategy to keep his family together and secure led to its
undoing.
I think that Page did an excellent job communicating the unifying
principle of the play through the blocking/imagery that she produced
onstage. The looming presence of the past symbolized by the
memorial tree for Larry, the fence that separates the Kellers from the
outside world, and the big house that conveys the fruits of Joes
decisions all reinforce the story that unfolds onstage.