DEATH OF A SALESMAN Reviews

It will be interesting to see the response to the songs they have added.

I'm not sure Mr. Miller needed any help....but even sooooooooooooo

Positive review from AMNY

Mixed-negative from New York Theatre

That New York Theatre review is... eh. A white guy complaining that a Black Willy Loman is historically inaccurate? And that having worked under a white boss undercuts the themes of racism at play?

Mixed from New York Stage Review

Then there’s the sensitive matter that the Lomans are all played by Black actors. Nothing wrong with that in this age of color-blind casting, but the fact that most of the other actors are Caucasian adds a subtext that Miller obviously never intended. When Willy asks his boss Howard (Blake DeLong) if he can work at the home office rather than go on the road, the young man humiliates him in a manner far harsher than the way the scene is customarily played, making it hard for us not to think that racial prejudice factors into his hostility. Perfectly credible, but nothing to do with the play as written.

Congratulations, you've discovered the point of the revival.

Updated On: 10/9/22 at 09:03 PM

Critic's Pick from Jesse Green:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/09/theater/review-death-of-a-salesman.html

"The latest Broadway revival, which opened on Sunday at the Hudson Theater, goes wider, a notably rich and mostly successful approach. For the first time in a major New York production, the Lomans are played by Black actors. Wendell Pierce, as Willy, is wrenching as he flails and fails to avoid his fate instead of slumping into it from the start. And Sharon D Clarke, as Linda, is so paradoxically shattering in her stoicism that she turns what is usually portrayed as unshakable loyalty into a kind of heedless comorbidity."

Rave from Talkin' Broadway:

"Throughout, Wendell Pierce and Sharon D Clarke are giving extraordinary performances in a play that runs over three hours and that never lets up. The rest of the cast is also excellent, as are the creative elements: Anna Fleischle's minimalist and abstract set design; the costumes created by Fleischle and her co-designer Sarita Fellows (André De Shields in silvery white is a knockout); and the underlay of blues music composed by Femi Temowo. All in all, you are unlikely ever to see a finer production of Death of a Salesman than this one."

"Death of a Salesman is still the great tragedy of our time."

https://www.theatermania.com/broadway/reviews/review-arthur-miller-death-of-a-salesman-broadway_94401.html

Updated On: 10/9/22 at 09:49 PM

DTLI Consensus: This new Salesman is liked, but not quite well-liked.

11 positive (including the NYT), 5 mixed.

https://didtheylikeit.com/shows/death-of-a-salesman-2/

Updated On: 10/10/22 at 01:09 AM

The Other One said: "
Mixed from New York Stage Review

Then there’s the sensitive matter that the Lomans are all played by Black actors. Nothing wrong with that in this age of color-blind casting, but the fact that most of the other actors are Caucasian adds a subtext that Miller obviously never intended. When Willy asks his boss Howard (Blake DeLong) if he can work at the home office rather than go on the road, the young man humiliates him in a manner far harsher than the way the scene is customarily played, making it hard for us not to think that racial prejudice factors into his hostility. Perfectly credible, but nothing to do with the play as written.

Congratulations, you've discovered the point of the revival."

This doesn't counter anything Miller intended in the play as written. I doubt he would have objected.

"

And especially since Loman was highlighted as a Jewish man on more than one occasion, even during Miller's lifetime. The character feeling othered is built into the piece, I'd argue. The audience is left to determine the degree, or how much is Willie's perception/depression.

It's pretty much an obligatory question at this point, but I wonder if there's any plans for a proshot or film based on this production. Several other Broadway Salesmen have had one... several cast members of the original run reprised their role for the 1951 movie (and Lee J. Cobb &:Mildred Dunnock returned to their roles for the Broadway Theatre Archive film), Dustin Hoffman's show became an acclaimed TV movie, and Brian Dennehy's was filmed for Showtime.

Given Wendell Pierce's formidable stature as a TV actor, you'd think a network like HBO or a streaming service would be happy get a version of this while it's hot.

I'm selling one ticket to the evening performance on October 29th at 8pm. Orchestra center, row B, seat 109. I paid $175 including fees and I'm asking $125 for it. Will be sent by email (PDF) immediately upon payment. Take care, all.