Death of a Salesman

(Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 30 October 2010)

The Salesman mistakes the symptoms of others' successes (e.g., connections and popularity) for causes (e.g., perseverance, talent, and specialisation). He passes today's opportunities for tomorrow's deceptively certain uncertainties. His main accomplishment is in having raised a question. The search for an answer may require more than a single generation. One should recognise the significance of having raised the question enough so as not to kill oneself for a wrong reason.

What an odd habit of taking pride in one's children, instead of enjoying their companionship, when applicable, or, otherwise, discarding them, if legal. What an odd habit of looking up to one's parents instead of exercising one's own judgement. The main virtue of the state's social welfare system is in disengaging families and freeing individuals to develop their talents in the company of strangers.

How much like robots humans are. And yet, having appreciated that fact, one cares about them even more.

The players are uniformly competent. Joseph Ziegler does not invest his character, the "small man" salesman Willy, with excessive substance (e.g., an inkling of an answer). Ari Cohen has the versatility required for portraying Biff, who cannot be copied off a catalogued type.