Classic Arthur Miller play ‘A View From the Bridge’ comes to Colorado

It’s been quite a long time since any Denver area theater company has done one of Arthur Miller’s plays. Arguably the greatest American playwright, Miller has penned classics: Such as Death of a Salesman, All My Sons and The Price.

The Edge Theatre in Lakewood is presenting Miller’s A View From the Bridge through June 3. Director Angela Astle explains why we should all see this American classic:

Why did you choose A View From the Bridge?

Rick Yaconis, the Artistic Director, selects the shows for The Edge’s season. He came to me and asked if I would direct it. After reading it, I explained my vision for it would be to stage it in the round so that the audience becomes part of the neighborhood that witnesses Eddie’s demise. He loved the idea, and here we are!

What are the core issues in Miller’s play?

Miller creates wonderful three dimensional characters that have very real human flaws. In the case of Eddie Carbone (played by Rick Yaconis), we can’t help but watch him make bad decisions, still rooting for him as the good guy.

Does Miller’s play speak to today’s political battles over immigration?

Miller’s focus is Italian [immigrants], but the message of “what will we sacrifice for our family” rings true to all of us. Whether it is leaving loved ones behind to make money for their family’s future, or leaving one’s homeland altogether on the promise of a better life, we are all immigrants. We all make enormous sacrifices out of love for our family.

Can you talk a little bit about the look of this production?  

Miller set this play in the ’50s, and as it was written in 1955, I have chosen that year specifically as the setting for our show. Authenticity is very important, so everyone is dressed in clothing of the period, but also in the working class demographic that Longshoremen come from. Props, set pieces, and dialects are all as accurate as possible for 1955.

What makes this show particularly unique is staging it in the round. It’s the first time The Edge has been configured in this manner and I find this “View from the Bridge,” if you will, incredibly important in watching Eddie’s honor stripped from him in front of the whole neighborhood.

What would make readers choose this production of ‘A View From The Bridge’ over other productions in town?
Intimacy is key for this show. Miller gives us great characters to draw from, but sitting in the space, as close as you are to the actors, you can see all of the non-verbal body language from everyone. Nothing gets hidden in the round, especially a few fight scenes that were particularly tricky to stage in this manner! From Eddie’s sparkle in his eye when he looks into his niece, Catherine’s (played by Rebecca Morphis) face, to the twitching of Eddie’s forearm when he’s being confronted by Marco (played by Ryan Goold), it’s live theatre at its finest.

The Edge Theatre, 9797 W. Colfax Ave., Lakewood, presents ‘A View From the Bridge’ through June 3, Fri./
Sat. and Monday; Sun. at 6 p.m. (No performance on May 20) Tickets are $20 adult; $15 Students & Seniors

For tickets call 303-232-0363 or online at http://theedgetheater.com.