The Price

Following the Lyceum’s journey into the world of eternal youth in Peter Pan, the theatre starts its Spring/Summer season with Arthur Miller’s The Price, a tale of two brothers and the dire financial circumstances that led to the choice between following their dreams and keeping their family together.

Set in 1967, The Price follows middle aged cop, Victor Franz (Greg Powrie) as he attempts to sell the furniture that belonged to his late father, a man who lost everything in the Great Depression. But as he comes to an agreement with furniture dealer, Gregory Solomon, (James Hayes) the unexpected arrival of his estranged younger brother, Walter  (Aden Gillett) brings both painful memories and startling revelations.

Directed by John Dove, who also directed the Lyceum’s production of Miller’s The Man Who Had All The Luck in 2009, The Price initially seems well-suited to our current financial climate; as we slowly crawl out of the recession, times are still uncertain. While the play appears to be dominated by monetary problems, namely the consequences of the 1929 Wall Street Crash, it’s Miller’s underlying story of the Franz family’s broken dynamic that emerges as the play’s true message.

Peppered with themes of sacrifice, nostalgia, guilt and ultimately, betrayal, The Price deals with the influential patriarchal legacy of a long dead and unseen character, who still dominates the lives of his two adult children. In a world governed by media coverage of the financial catastrophe, this play reveals the emotional and much more human cost of a recession.

Dove’s direction, combined with Michael Taylor’s simple but effective set, consisting of piles of forgotten and dusty relics of another era, creates the most believable platform for Miller’s carefully constructed plot. The cast excel in their emotionally-demanding roles, especially Powrie, whose turn as the kindly but embittered police officer makes for compelling viewing. This is a production is a triumph and a testament to the longevity of Miller’s work.