Real Critics Editor/Publisher
Arthur Miller's "The Price" takes a very intimate look at the Franz family as they seek to sell family furniture before the building, that the family grew up in, is taken down. Though the play is not very action packed, the depth of emotion fills the small cluttered room on stage with heavy, life-changing doubt, guilt, regret and love.
To pull off such a show you need a small, but mighty, cast and the Riverside Community Players production fit the bill.
Now, I don't mean to compare, but when you've seen a show multiple times, or even once before, it is difficult not to. We also have our favorites. We prefer the original to the sequel, or feel that the first Broadway cast did it best. But when a critic can look at one show and say that they not only did it justice, but also rivaled their all-time favorite, that's a good sign.
When I saw "The Price" at A Noise Within in Glendale in 2007 I felt like I was a fly on the wall of the room that the Franz family argued and discussed in throughout the play. I did not feel like the cast was acting, but rather trying to work things out honestly and fairly. I had a similar feeling watching the RCP production. It didn't feel staged or set up; it felt natural.The heart of the play is Victor Franz, played by Chris Marler, who, in revisiting his old house, learns that his life could have been different, but he's not sure that it would have been for the better. Marler is fantastic in this role. Though he is slightly younger than Victor, Marler presented the life and heart of the character with wonderful naturalness and honesty. Marler showed Victor's thoughtful nature in his small mannerisms, these slightly anxious, restless movements that portrayed his vulnerability to his wife, his brother and even the furniture appraiser.
Alisa Ann Lovas was charming and controlling as the lovely Esther Franz. Her presence always seemed to make Victor stand up taller, and she spoke plainly to the appraiser, unwilling to be ripped off. Lovas could have used Esther's love of alcohol a bit more, but her sympathy for her husband toward the end of the play was touching.
Tom Shelton played the well-to-do Walter Franz, Victor's older brother. Shelton was an excellent foil to Marler's character. The two could almost see eye-to-eye, but not quite. That tension made the room feel smaller and yet the brothers were still so far apart.
But the heavy mood was often broken by furniture appraiser Gregory Solomon, played by Don Hudson. Hudson brought wisdom and humor to the cramped family gathering. The audience need only see Hudson appear and they knew there would be some funny trouble brewing.
In her Director's note Pat McQuillan asks "How does one determine what it costs to give up that which was most important to take on a task that he never expected? And what does it cost to abandon your family at a time of crisis to continue in your quest for your future? Who benefits? Which one is successful? How do we measure success, happiness, and peace of mind? Does success change who we are? Does acceptance of less change what we are?" I think, based on the convincing performance of the RCP ensemble, these questions could be answered in many ways. But that's life, right? Everyone has a different answer, everyone chooses a different path. No one's path is smooth; everyone has to make choices and whether those choices are good or bad, well, that answer lies in the eyes of the beholder.
Riverside Community Players presents "The Mousetrap" March 19 through April 4. Visit www.riversidecommunityplayers.com.
Overall, I was entertained by the production, credit going to the fluid, purposed staging by the director. Miller's writing is strong enough to survive most amateur readings. Marler recited the text well enough. I however found his nervous ticks distracting. They looked forced and staged, not stemming from any thoughts or emotions he was experiencing in the moment. I also didn't buy that he was a police officer. Strength of presence honed from years on the beat was sorely lacking. (Speaking of pretend cop, why don't Inland costumers put police characters into real uniforms, or at the very least use polyester clothes? Have any of them ever seen an officer? If he was a fireman, would they put him in a yellow jacket with shiny tape on the sleeves?) Lovas's portrayal was empty and lifeless. One moment of truth arose when she dropped the fake, wavering 'theater' voice altogether and simply yelled a line at Marler. That one sentence was believable. Of the family members, Walter was the best acted. Shelton's simple, off-the-cuff speech brought to the conversations a realism that lacked while he was just listening. Hudson's Solomon was the most entertaining character. His consistency, focus and sense of timing were refreshing.
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