Local theatre buffs are encouraged to make the trek to the big smoke next week to catch Hearth Theatre’s highly anticipated production of Arthur Miller’s 20th century classic ‘Death of a Salesman’.
Former local, talented actor, and co-producer of the critically acclaimed production, Maggie McCormack, told the Mail the show is of an incredibly high standard and is not to be missed.
“The play had a hugely successful season in February last year at Fortyfive Downstairs in Melbourne. It is a powerful family story that touches the hearts and minds of audiences as well as providing great entertainment. Now we are excited that the production is having a second season at Chapel Off Chapel Theatre in Prahran from June 7-11,” Maggie said.
The Mail had the opportunity to chat about the production with Hearth Theatre founder and artistic director Charlie Cousins, whom locals may know as Constable Charles from the Doctor Blake Murder Mysteries which was filmed locally at Ballarat and featured on the ABC.
The actor has worked tirelessly over the past four years to bring this show to life.
“We began working on the production in early 2021 but unfortunately covid and the lockdowns saw us forced to rehearse online for two days a week for up to seven months, Charlie told the Mail from Port Macquarie, where Hearth Theatre were staging Death of a Salesman as part of a tour to regional centres.
“It was a long time in the making but we were thrilled to finally bring the show to Fortyfive Downstairs in 2022 and are bringing the award winning show back by popular demand,” Cousins said.
The central character in the play, an older man Willy Loman – played by one Australia’s finest theatre actors Paul English – is struggling to keep his head above water and the impact this struggle has on himself and his family is profound. It is a story for our times exploring career and financial pressures and the importance of connection. Families and individuals will recognise more than ever the dilemmas and mental health challenges faced by the family in this moving tale.
The Age has described the production as a ‘A tragic masterpiece. Traditionalists will love it. All the creativity gets poured into moulding fully inhabited characters through which the play’s enduring questions are explored.’
“Arthur Miller was really a playwright before his time. This work will appeal to older audiences with its sense of nostalgia for those times, but also carries important messages and themes which will resonate with younger audiences today and we will host a number of school groups across the Melbourne season,” Charlie said.
The actor said the work holds special significance for him.
“I actually read the final monologue of the play for my entry audition for WAPA which secured my place and kick started my career. Seeing wide-eyed Year 11 and 12 students in the audience experiencing the play for the first time has been a real full-circle moment,” he said.
Hearth Theatre are kindly giving away a double pass to one of our lucky Castlemaine Mail readers for the 11am matinee performance of Death of a Salesman on Chapel Off Chapel Theatre in Prahran next Friday June 9.
To enter the ticket giveaway simply pop your name, address and contact number on the back of an envelope marked ‘Death of a Salesman competition’ and drop it into our office at 13 Hargraves Street by 5pm next Wednesday June 7. The winner will be notified by phone.
For tickets for this strictly limited season featuring just six shows visit https://chapeloffchapel.com.au/show/death-of-a-salesman/