I was 17 when I first read Death of a Salesman in my senior year of English. Our teacher got to crux of the story when she asked a quarter of us to stand up and advised the rest of us would most likely become unhappy with how our lives turned out. At 17 I remember the disappointment and reality of Willy’s story resonating with me and that it was all too real a possibility to not have your life turn out the way you wanted it too. The idea of that has always stayed with me and grows more real every year.
Watching the play again 20 years later I found new things caught my attention. Willy has a house paid off, a wife who adores him and a friend willing to help. Biff his son is less broken by the revelation of his father as he is confused by his priorities. The tragedy has become more complex and more saddening. At 17 I understood Willy’s dreams, at 38 I know all too well his insecurities but I can also see he has more to be grateful for if he can just get out of his own way. I have no doubt I could see it a different way in another few years. This is a very rich text that continues to speak to us.
Karen took me to see the play last week done by Queensland Theatre and I have been fortunate to have a review of it published with Weekend Notes here https://www.weekendnotes.com/death-of-a-salesman-playhouse-qpac/ Let me know what you think.
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Back to the Drawing Board Productions 
An expert and enthusiastic review that leaves the reader in no doubt…go see it!!
I remember it well. I also studied it in yr twelve 1962 and I’d love to see it again – in Melbourne.
I saw this in London, in ’79 or ’80. Warren Mitchell was in the lead.
Nice review, Lloyd, It’s a great play.
Best wishes, Pete.
That would have been interesting with him. Did they do American accents? I’m glad you liked the review. Best wishes Pete. I’ve started on the cholesterol tablets.
Yes, they did American accents. Mitchell was a Londoner, but could manage a decent ‘Noo York’.
Good luck with the medication mate.
Best wishes, Pete.
Thanks mate, you too.
Isn’t it great how a fine play, a good novel, a favorite movie, a beautiful poem says different things to us as we revisit them over the years of our life. Sometimes just over the days of our life. I would work the same play, the same production, the same cast night over night. and each night I saw it in a different light. It might have been caused by something that happened that day or maybe the reaction of the audience that night.
Again, another fine review and I love your insights of the play, as a young man, and now.
Thank you Don, the point I was making is I think I was an old soul even at 17. It seemed most people then were full of promise and hope but I knew the score maybe ahead of time. Who knows? You must have done a production or two of this? Do you have a favourite Miller? Thank you for liking the review Don. Hope you’re well.
I never worked SALESMAN but I read it several times. It is one of the best. My favorite Miller is THE CRUCIBLE because I grew up in the terrible McCarthy era in the states and this play was written because of that time of ‘witch hunts’. Also because I worked a fine production of it at the Guthrie.
I backed off of Miller after he wrote AFTER THE FALL, a cheap tawdry play that attacks his ex-wife, Marilyn Monroe. And after I read that he institutionalized his son born with Down’s Syndrome and never visits him. Marilyn might have deserved some of his wrath. His son doesn’t.
That is very true Don.