Obviously a good night for theatre- Melville's The Mousetrap also opened last night to a packed house, not a spare seat in the place,  a situation to be repeated tonight I believe AND tomorrow's Matinee!

Opening night was sensational.
There was a full house of friends, family and respected Perth actors.
I really hope that the wider public also get to witness this cohesive piece of theatre.
Like many, I attended to support a good friend, but left so pleased I had seen a play that may otherwise have been missed.
As a regular of Perth theatre shows I have seen a wide spectrum of performances this year. It was great to finally relax into watching a show where everything came together in one ethralling and often nail biting production.
The delightful set formed a perfect setting for some of the best acting I have seen, to tell a very real and exciting story by a highly acclaimed playright.
The only negative comment from the long conversation home was the slightly sqeaking fake lawn on the stage.

I only hope people have time to grab a bunch of friends and get along before it finishes.

Surely some of the most gripping theatre I've seen in a long time, All My Sons by Arthur Miller is well worth seeing. Directed by Barry Park, this show features a brilliant cast that kept me on the edge of my seat right the way through - something few productions have done in the last five years.

The script is brilliant and is as true to life now as it was when it was written - a sign of Miller's insight into the human condition. Noel O' Neill's portrayal of Joe Keller cleverly provides insight into how normal, good people, can make errors of judgment that have awful repercussions over time. Lucy Eyre brought Joe's wife Kate to life with a well-judged balance of restraint and a powerful portrayal of the nervous energy of a woman whose life is on the brink of collapse.

David Gregory's depiction of Chris was both powerful and sensitive. His portrayal of a loving son who gradually realises that his father has let him down moved me to tears at times. His love interest, Anne Deever was engagingly brought to life by Tiana Morgan. She accurately captured the difficult situation of a young woman afflicted by tragedy who has resolved to move on with her life, whilst being true to herself and sensitive of those around her.

The entire cast is strong and they kept the play pulsating with life and energy right to the end. Credit goes not only to the cast members themselves, but to director Barry Park for his skilful direction.

Grant Malcolm and his team are to be commended on their enchanting creation of the Keller's family home and garden. The little details were just right, adding to the sense that this play has been put on with commitment and a passionate attention to detail by the whole company.

A truly memorable theatre event!

Arthur Miller’s ALL MY SONS is one of the great plays of the twentieth century and it is difficult to understand why it is not revived more often, although there have been occasional new productions. It was very successfully produced in London recently and hailed on that occasion as the modern classic that it undoubtedly is.

Miller has said he looked to the Greeks for inspiration and it is not hard to see the influence of Sophoclean tragedies in his plays. But it is not for that reason alone that his plays revive so well and resonate today. Certainly the themes of guilt and personal responsibility are there – themes used by everyone from Shakespeare to Shaw as well as Sophocles. But Miller’s great gift was to humanise those themes, create credible characters and never get preachy (something Shaw didn’t always manage!).

Miller sets his play shortly after the Second World War. During the conflict, Joe Keller’s manufacturing firm allegedly supplied military aircraft with defective engine parts. When the planes’ engines failed, 21 pilots were killed. Larry, the son of Joe and his wife Kate went missing, believed killed. Kate still passionately believes he will return one day.

This is merely the starting point for a tragedy involving Keller’s family and friends which it would be a pity to reveal. Suffice it to say it is of an emotional complexity that is at times overwhelming.

Barry Park’s production for GRADS brings out all these complexities, not forgetting the odd touch of humour. The cast, without exception, rises to the occasion and it would be invidious to name names. The pacing is excellent, accents are good, the set and costumes just right.

Quite simply this is one of the best GRADS productions I have seen and should not be missed.

Geoffrey Atkins (Professional actor, retired)

I don't write many reviews on here as I don't always have the time to put together something thats well thought out and intelligent! So this will be short and sweet!

I went to opening night of All My Sons, knowing little about Arthur Miller's work and knowing nothing about the play. It was also my first performance to be seen at the Dolphin Theatre at UWA as well.

THIS SHOW IS A MUST SEE!

With the majority of performances I have seen this year, I half expected a musical number to appear, however the lack of such was no disappointment! The script is almost 65 years old but delivers a timeless story of family betrayal and self deception.

The set was fantastic! A well constructed typical American style 2 story weatherboard house with porch and front garden complete with grass (although at times the sound of the actors walking on the grass was a little distracting). The sound and lighting used in the show were well thoughtful and provoking.

All of the actors gave an outstanding performance, particularly Lucy Eyre and Noel O'Neill who both commanded the stage with strong and honest performances as Kate and Joe Keller.

This show closes next Saturday. So do yourself a favour and get along and see it! You wont be disappointed!

Be sure not to miss this riveting play. The last performances are this Friday and Saturday, Book at BOCS, or at The Octagon before the show.