Monarch High School’s Melina Gyftopoulos
Everyone can point out major issues in the world today. From the economy, the environment, to what is said behind closed doors, even what the neighbors are gossiping about daily. People had seemed to forget that their own problems can erupt when the truth is hidden and not pointed out. This seemed to be the case for a family living in the small-town suburbs, where they couldn’t seem to escape their problems. Talented students brought this family and their small town to life in their production of “All My Sons” at The Benjamin School.
The emotion-high play was written in 1946 by Arthur Miller, and opened on Broadway on January 29th, 1947, and ran until 1949. The play is set a couple years after World War Two, in a small town in New England. The story tells about the Keller family’s very different perspectives on their missing son, Larry Keller. Even more passionately, after the tree in their yard that represents Larry, is blown away from the wind in the night, and stirs up tension among the family.
Starting with the incredible Joe Keller, portrayed by Jacob Steinger, he captivates every emotion through his movements and mannerisms, even his accent brings the 1940’s masculinity to the stage. By his side, the housewife Kate Keller, embodied by Katherine Rodgers, her grounded and genuine perspectives as well as the naturalism in her tones brought so much character to her American housewife role. The mothers extensive care for her son Larry brings her other son Chris Keller closer to her than ever, with Caden Quinn as Chris. The chemistry between Steinger, Rodgers, and Quinn as a family was an uncanny resemblance to any family, as if the bonds were true, along with their natural humor that came easily to each of them.
Speaking of chemistry, the potential wife for Chris Keller, Ann Deever, played by Catherine Schenk embodied the extremely friendly daughter-in-law perfectly as Schenk and Quinn’s fluid chemistry filled the stage, as well as the tension created from the rest of the family. Without the tension breaking neighbors, the play wouldn’t have been the same. Most notably, however, were Lydia Lubey and Frank Lubey, their friendly housewife and nerdy neighbor essence portrayed by Sage Sorenson and Jakob Kroll broke tension and added comedic relief throughout the play.
Although majority of technical aspects were done by adults, the lighting and background music added emotions and brought out moods to create the perfect picture as the play went on. Specifically, during the scene where the family reads Larry’s letter, the dimmed blue lights as stars, glowing on them as their hearts break and emotions fill the stage. Every aspect of the show made each emotion expressed very clear and passionate.
The Benjamin School’s depiction of “All My Sons” undeniably represents the American Dream and reminds everyone that there are plenty of problems with the world we live in today, but it’s important to remember that “Every man has a star”. -Frank Lubey