Reviews

The 'Ender in question is Leonard Fenton who played Dr Legg at the soap's inception. In The Price he plays furniture dealer Gregory Solomon who's called in by New York cop Victor Franz (Tony Boncza) to take his late father's furniture off his hands.

Esther and Victor Franz

Victor's wife Esther (Susan Twist) doubts whether he'll haggle enough and wants him to make sure he gets the best deal possible.

Into the mix comes Victor's estranged brother Walter and we're in for a dark couple of hours as the siblings argue over family and personal responsibilities, ambition, the US Depression, divorce and the price attached to all of life's choices.

Victor and Gregory Solomon

It's one of Miller's later plays (1968) coming after his divorce from Marilyn Monroe and his battles against Senator McCarthy's anti-communist House of Un-American Activities Committee. However, The Price is more about family politics. It's set in the mid-1960's, but the human themes are universal.

It'll touch a cord with anyone having to look after a ageing parent or deal with a more successful brother or sister. Walter has made his money as a doctor and with nursing homes - "big money in the aged, y'know!" The dispute centres on the way one brother looked after their ageing father - while the other looked after number one and their differing perceptions of events.

Victor and Walter

The performances continue to grab the attention throughout the play. I was waiting for the brothers' simmering tension to erupt into a fight, but it didn't happen - all very repressed and English in a way.

Despite being watchable it is very bleak - a cross between a reality TV show about clearing out your house and the aforementioned EastEnders at its most depressing. The only light moments are Leonard Fenton's almost stereotypical turn as a smalltime jewish businessman out to make a buck - and the five minute opening scene where Victor reminisces in silence as he looks over his father's furniture. I kept expecting Susan Twist to break into a full Marge Simpson accent as she berates her husband!

Dark, depressing yet thought-provoking. For box office details, use the New Wolsey weblink on the right hand side of this page >>>