All My Sons, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

emilylouisehardy
May 28, 2014
3 min read

By Sophia Longhi

Reminiscent of an ancient amphitheatre, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre is a spectacular arena to experience a performance, with its dramatic forested setting and its magnificent, towering, semi-circular seating structure. But with material at the mercy of the elements, not all plays and performances can hold their own in this wide-open environment. With the theatre's traditional programme consisting of Shakespeare and comedies, Arthur Miller may stand out as an unusual choice. The Open Air Theatre's artistic director, Timothy Sheader, however, believes that Miller's 1947 play, All My Son's, is perfect for the theatre's unique space and that the outdoor setting exposes the traditional Grecian tragedy elements of Miller's post-WWII American tale.

All My Sons is a cautionary tale that explores morality. At the crux of it it, it is a family drama that focuses on the relationship between father and son, a common theme in Greek tragedy, and the catastrophic effect of decisions made based upon one's own moral framework. For Joe, the father of the family and the protagonist of the play, his loyalty to his wife and children and the importance of providing a future for them is his priority. As in Greek tragedy, the protagonist possesses a fatal flaw and unknowingly commits an offence, and the decisions that he made return to haunt him. Visually, the space at the Open Air Theatre is always striking, but what does it add to a play like All My Sons? The play is set in a garden and so the advantages that the outdoor surroundings offer are plain to see: a big, real sky; natural light; the wind in the trees and general outdoor garden noises that brings Lizzie Clachan's nostalgic and otherwise two-dimensional set to life. The space also allows for the stage to be placed atop a tangle of old tree roots, suggesting effectively that there may be something darker lying beneath the white picket-fenced American Dream. In a conversation with Christopher Bigsby, Timothy Sheader describes how the elements play a key role within the context of the garden setting. Nature adds another dimension to the production and its significance becomes more apparent as the play progresses, the sky darkening and reflecting the tone of the play. What may not have been planned were the sights and sounds of planes overhead, geniusly in line with the themes in Act Two, which enhanced the viewing experience greatly. It goes without saying that the play, particularly in this exposed context, demands a strong cast, especially as the drama increases to intense levels throughout the second half. Tom Mannion, as Joe, carries the company, like his character bears the weight of his family, and old American accents, spoken with authenticity by all of the actors, transported the audience back to the time of post-WWII America. All My Sons was a fresh, contemporary play in 1947 and Miller intended his plays to be reinvented with each generation so that they stay relevant to the times. Although Sheader's production of All My Sons hasn't been modernised as such and therefore carries notes of nostalgia, as reflected in the set design, we can still relate to the themes in the play and we can undoubtedly compare it to more recent events. It is a classic play, full of gems when it comes to quotes, such as when Chris says to his father, 'I know you're no worse than most men but I thought you were better', and works well in its original era. The play's links to Greek tragedy reveal the universality of the story, there being many examples of this tale in all walks of life. The Open Air Theatre succeeds in bringing a poetic quality to All My Sons and the surroundings work to heighten our senses, resulting in an all-encompassing theatre experience.