By Eva Trieger
SOLANA BEACH, California — North Coast Repertory Theatre has opened Season 43 with a blockbuster. Though Arthur Miller’s emotionally riveting drama is set in 1950s Brooklyn, the emotions, struggles, and conflicts are timeless and defy an attachment to any one location. A View From the Bridge brings audiences into the blue-collar home of an Italian American family. Themes of economic strife, marital disconnection, split allegiances and xenophobia were certainly prevalent in post-Korean-war America. But couldn’t the same be said of today?
Eddie Carbone (Richard Baird) is a hardworking man, trying to provide for his wife and protect his niece from the world outside their insulated home. Eddie’s wife, Beatrice (Margot White) is in the unenviable position of peacemaker and unfulfilled spouse. His niece, Catherine (Marie Zolezzi) is on the brink of womanhood, eager to join the ranks of the working world and contribute to the household. Eddie struggles with maintaining control of his home and this is made even more challenging when he agrees to house his wife’s relations, illegal immigrants from Italy.
Marco (Lowell Byers) and Rudolpho (Coby Rogers) have come to New York where they plan to work on the docks, to earn money. As they are here illegally, Eddie is anxious about the pair being discovered and urges them to keep a low profile.
Almost immediately, Eddie is concerned about Catherine and Rudolpho’s obvious interest in each other. He mistrusts the younger Italian man’s motives and believes his niece is too naive and impressionable. Rudolpho garners attention from the fellow dockworkers Louis (Matthew Salazar-Thompson) and Mike (Steve Froehlich) for his affable and flamboyant nature. This further incenses Eddie who seeks out the advice of a neighborhood lawyer, Alfieri (Frank Corrado).
Having attended shows at this venue since 1998, I am nearly always impressed by the caliber of acting on this stage. This show took my appreciation to a whole new level. Every actor in this production was superb. The mastery of raw human emotion, timing and physical presence was precise and authentic. Baird’s embodiment of this Archie Bunkerish man was flawless. Corrado did some of his finest acting to date. White beautifully portrayed the undervalued wife, as Zolezzi debuted with a fine performance of a budding young woman. Other actors new to North Coast Rep, Byers and Rogers, both brought Miller’s characters to life with passion and depth.
A View from the Bridge has been extended through October 13th as audiences have been raving about the production and the acting. Family dynamics never go out of style, and as we continue to struggle with immigration, racism, sexuality and power, Miller’s story will remain relevant and timeless.
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Eva Trieger is a freelance writer specializing in the coverage of the arts.
Great summation:
Family dynamics never go out of style, and as we continue to struggle with immigration, racism, sexuality and power, Miller’s story will remain relevant and timeless.