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Thurs 26 Jan - Sat 25 Feb 06
An Octagon Theatre Production
A View From The Bridge
by Arthur Miller

directed by Mark Babych
designed by Hannah Clark

 

Octagon logo.

 

 

 A View From The Bridge official image.

'The acting is of consistently fine quality... an outstanding piece of theatrical craftsmanship'

The Guardian (4 stars)

      

'THIS is theatre as it should be - spine-tingling, gripping to the very last second,

with elements of tragic comedy and an ending that pulls no punches'

Bolton Evening News

'Director Mark Babych has crafted such a stunningly passionate production

that the writer himself would be extremely proud. Utterly unmissable'

What's On Stage (5 stars)

        

Set in Brooklyn in the early 1950s, middle-aged casual dock worker Eddie Carbone, along with his wife and niece, await the arrival of their cousins, illegal immigrants fleeing poverty-stricken Italy.  Eddie treasures his close-knit Italian-American community and, above all else, his niece and ward Catherine, the shining light in his otherwise gruelling life on the docks.  As Catherine blossoms into a young woman, Eddie's devotion to her begins to border on obsession.

        

When one of the charismatic cousins makes a play for Catherine's affections, Eddie becomes confused and consumed by jealousy, and increasingly isolated from family and friends.  Will Eddie risk breaking an age-old oath of solidarity and brotherhood which could threaten to tear both family and community apart?

In Eddie Carbone, Miller has created one of the great tragic characters in twentieth century drama.  He offers us an extraordinary insight into one man's downward spiral of self-destruction, showing how events can transform a respected, ordinary man into a stranger to himself and his community.

Miller's astounding play plunged audiences into this timeless tragedy of love, honour and betrayal.  Set against the brooding backdrop of Brooklyn's docklands, Miller infuses razor-sharp dialogue and vividly raw characterisation with all the hallmarks of classic Greek tragedy to create one of the most enthralling dramas in his celebrated catalogue of work.

            

Production Photographs:

Catherine Kinsella and Damian Myerscough. Photo: Ian Tilton.  Catherine Kinsella and Damian Myerscough. Photo: Ian Tilton.  Keith Ladd. Photo: Ian Tilton.  James Kristian and Damian Myerscough. Photo: Ian Tilton.

Cast:     Creative Team  
Antony Bessick Mike / Second Immigration Officer   Mark Babych Director
Freya Copeland Beatrice   Hannah Clark Designer
Catherine Kinsella Catherine   Ivan Stott Composer
James Kristian Rodolpho   James Farncombe Lighting Designer
Keith Ladd Alfieri   Sally Hague Dialect Coach
Damian Myerscough Eddie   Kate Waters Fight Director
Craig Rogan Marco   Andy Smith Sound Designer
Martin Walsh Louis / First Immigration Officer   Lizzie Wiggs DSM on the Book
      Catherine Paskell Assistant Director

Red Hook Community Members:

Adam Atkinson, Gislaine Bahls, Judith Bailey, Ed Barry, Richard Beanland,

Peter C. Birch, Antonio Bottari, Tina Dunn and Evelyn Hough.


A View From The Bridge  
Archive Performance Dates: Thurs 26 Jan - Sat 25 Feb 06