Review: Heartfelt and Stirring A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE at Seattle Rep

Arguably one of the greatest American playwrights, Arthur Miller rarely goes in for the flash or quirky with his works but simply tells a story. And those stories, such as "A View From the Bridge" currently performing at the Seattle Rep, build with a sublime slow burn and sneak up on you until, before you know it, have you in their grip and won't let go. And the cast and crew of this current production truly understand that and deliver some finely layered and complex performances making Miller's work shine all the more.

On the surface it's a simple story about family and honor and what you'll do for them both as working class Eddie (Mark Zeisler) and his wife Bea (Kirsten Potter) go about their average workaday lives in 1950's Brooklyn. They've been raising their orphaned niece Catherine (Amy Danneker) and are the perfect picture of a well-respected family in the neighborhood. But when they take in Bea's two illegal immigrant cousins from Italy, Marco and Rodolpho (Brandon O'Neill and Frank Boyd), what starts as a simple act of family charity devolves as Catherine and Rodolpho fall in love to the objection of the protective Eddie who doesn't feel the young man is right for his niece.

Miller's use of neighborhood lawyer Alfieri (Leonard Kelly Young) as a kind of narrator for the piece beautifully sets up the stakes that this simple family story will eventually come to a boil. Director Braden Abraham understands perfectly the need for that build and slow burn of it all for this story and infuses it in the piece as he's done with so many others.

The ensemble brings in some superbly layered and complex performances of these rich characters. Zeisler takes on Eddie beautifully making him a gripping character with whom you may not agree but you completely understand. And no one understands him better than his wife superbly played by Potter giving her so much intelligence and heart but still keeping her in the mindset of a 1950's wife. Danneker and Boyd have a sweet and charming chemistry together and completely embody the potentially dire stakes their relationship could have. O'Neill turns in a stunningly strong performance filled with conviction. And Young lends a fantastic all knowing air to Alfieri but still keeps him firmly footed in the realm of the play.

With a gorgeously crafted and era perfect set from Scott Bradley you'll feel like you're right in the middle of this neighborhood and part of the emotional journey. A journey, that you'll be thinking about long after you leave the theater and that is why I give "A View from the Bridge" a moved and thoughtful YAY with my three letter rating system. A stirring piece of American theater deftly produced.

"A View from the Bridge" performs at the Seattle Rep through October 18th. For tickets or information contact the Seattle Rep box office at 206-443-2222 or visit them online at www.seattlerep.org.

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