All My Sons-Old Vic

Like, seriously, who is in charge of the Old Vic's marketing? I have zero artistic talent and I could knock up something better than this.

Looks like Sally and Bill got lost looking for the toilets.

Sally Field and Bill Pullman will be guests on the Graham Norton Show on Friday.

I kinda have a love hate relationship with Arthur Miller these days because I studied his plays for my A Level English Lit, and struggle to watch his plays now without over-analysing everything lol. My dissertation was “Arthur Miller’s treatment of women in his plays. Discuss” 😄

I don't really get the trailer either, but then trailers do quite often seem to make things look utterly unappealing, on the rare occasion I go to the cinema I enjoy watching the trailers and thinking 'thank goodness i'm not here to see that'.

At the first preview, as you'd expect, some performances were still limbering up, but overall, this is coming along very nicely.

Some spoilers follow. . .

While the only direct topical reference is a screen at the beginning, playing news stories, one of which references the deadly deregulated construction of the Boeing 737 Max aeroplane, there is a huge topical resonance informing the performances that follow.

Only 9 years ago, the David Suchet production was permeated by an overwhelming sense of guilt bordering on the religious. But here, the shamelessness of the Trump era predominates, where values are meaningless, as long as personal and family survival can be maintained.

The two most perfectly formed performances, at this early stage, are those of Sally Field's magnificently deceitful and decomposing matriarch and Oliver Johnstone's tearing-up valiantly crusading outsider.

But it is through Bill Pullman's oily patriarch and through Colin Morgan's war damaged son that this production carves out it's own topical space.

Where Suchet's Joe Keller was heaviness, Pullman's is comparably light, a conscience free snake oil salesman greasing the wheels. He exudes forced charm in that uber masculine, one-eye-half-closed cud-chewing de Niro-esque way, but his soul is evidently as empty as Hamlet's King Claudius, or America's King Trump. If he can preserve his family, and his freedom, his conscience will not trouble him. . .

Morgan's Chris Keller is also singular. Unlike 9 years ago, where Stephen Campbell Moore's Chris was a force of intelligent truth-seeking, Morgan plays Chris like a war-damaged Forest Gump, complete with eye twitches and amiable glazed eyes. For me, his character is that of every innocent dupe who has ever truly believed in the words of a Trump or Boris or Nigel.

So in these two characters interpretations, we see how easily and how readily and how eloquently Miller speaks to the now.

Jenna Coleman's deceptively one note indignantly "nice" characterisation becomes much more complex and rounded through the course of the play, in concert with events.

This show will grow and grow and become great, and while there was no standing ovation today, there may be tomorrow.

I already had a ticket when I secured an extra PWC ticket for tonight, so I'll be checking in with this again.

Speaking of Soapdish, what ever became of Soapdish the musical starring Kristin Chenoweth!?

I haven't watched it in years and you've put me in the mood for it!

Still hoping to see this at some point during the run but I doubt it can top the Suchet / Wannamaker tour de force of a few years ago. I'll kick myself if I don't see La Field in action though.

In agreement with @ryan

"Well. The director should be applauded for getting so many great actors in the same production. Shame that they all act like they're in completely different plays"

"Colin Morgan 'is still' working out which of the 3 or 4 acting choices he was going for"


A play I wanted to enjoy which was let down by the acting especially the younger cast members and as everything resolves could not understand why Ann would return knowing what she does. Initially booked to see it later in the run so will be interesting to see if the young actors find their groove and may give it a miss if the reviews are as per @ryan .


A great set with a great view from the front row thanks to the with the TodayTix front row lottery, a low stage, only issue may be the fallen tree on the right hand side of the stage which may impair the view of the first few rows of the right side aisle seats.

Just over 2 ½ hours last night, started a bit late so out for 10:10

I enjoyed it too! Pretty much spot on with @ryan and westendcub's comments. I am thinking about booking it again later in the run to see how it develops and whether some of the *interesting* acting choices evolve, hopefully for a better outcome.

But overall despite some weird moments I was really impressed, and relieved too if I'm being honest, given my first Arthur Miller play was the Old Vic's American Clock a couple of months ago...wasn't a fan of that one at all.