Death of a salesman - play response - Assignment Example

Death of a Salesman-Play Response This is the second time I was watching this play after watching it 2 years ago. This time the venue was at Denver Center for Performing Arts. Willy is portrayed as a passionate person in this play especially when he is talking to his wife and his young boss. His passion and anger, which is eliciting empathy for his poor soul is clearly brought out in the play. Willy’s voice is compared to his old and weary refrigerator. He is worn out due to his age. He is 63 years old and still struggling to make sales all over.

The dressing codes and costumes of the actors indicate that this play is an ancient play. The sound effects were perfect with echoes employed especially during the flashbacks. The director Powell also manages to shift the tome of the play depending with the occurrence especially using tonal variations of the actors. The most striking feature of the play in terms of sound is when Willy crushes his car indicating the end of the play. The lights then go off. The Director used light to depict different moods in the play.

Instances of somber moods were braced with dim lights while brighter lights braced happy moments. The actor’s participation was perfect especially with stage position at the stage while Willy and His Son’s were conversing. The actor’s participation was so real that it managed to moved the audience. The play was full of laughter, murmurs, while other shed tears at the tragic death of the salesman. Willy’s participation and expressions of anger and somberness made this play look very real.

Background music employed especially vocal tunes carried away the audience making the play to look so real. Use of gestures and stage movement encouraged actor’s participation. Symbolically Willy decides to plant a garden in the play, which is a symbol of satisfaction. Willy wanted to make his son achieve the American dream but his son Biff denounces him when he finds him cheating on his mum with a mistress. During this time, Willy picks a hoe and goes to the garden to pant some seeds. The actions look real even though this play is a stage performance the director Anthony Powel has managed to draw this symbolism.

Willy’s action with his wife is marvelous. During the opening stage of the play, he holds his wife and tells her, “Linda people laugh at me when I tell them am feeling kind of temporary about myself and after all the highways, the trains, and the appointments, and the years, you end up worth more dead than alive”. The director of this play hints Willy’s tragic death, which still creates a lot of suspense. I enjoyed how the director used suspense in the play to attract the audience. Most of the flashbacks created suspense creating a tension, anxiety to know what happens next.

This is evident during the last minutes of the play when Willy crushes to death with his vehicle. In conclusion, I would like to recommend the director Anthony Powel with his team for a perfect job well done. Work CitedHurell, John D. Two Modern American Tragedies: Reviews and Criticism of Death of a Salesman and A Streetcar Named Desire. New York: Scribner, 1961.