All My Sons

To quote the director, Gwen Stevens `this is a story about truth and honesty, lies and covering up for lies, love of family, loyalty and greed`. These intense emotions almost overshadow the plot and keep the audience gripped throughout the play. With a lesser talented cast the effect would not have been felt so keenly. Each of the ten actors gave exemplary performances with Jack Jenner as Bert showing just what a young person is able to achieve. Like all those on stage he spoke up clearly and for the first time, projection was good in every case, something I have not witnessed for many an island show.

The set was simple and effective. The costumes captured the period and somehow suited the ethos of each of the characters. Mood music enhanced the production and I particularly liked the (un named) pianist who played discreetly during the interval.

The plot itself centres round the suppressed guilt of Joe Keller, a successful business man, whose partner, Steve Deever, had been gaoled for knowingly allowing defective machine parts to be sent out, thereby causing the death of 21 pilots, in World War Two. Joe was equally responsible but had been freed on appeal. His son, Larry, a pilot, went missing and although almost certainly dead, Joe`s wife still lived in hopes that he might still be alive. The impact of these circumstances on both families and how each member deals with the various situations is what really makes the play so interesting.

Joe Keller was played by Michael Arnell, who, despite having to take over the lead role at a moment`s notice, was outstanding. Although he had to go on with the script, this was done so unobtrusively that after a few moments one was unaware that he was reading the part. He gave such a seemingly well rehearsed performance that one didn`t have to make any allowances, they just weren`t needed.

Carolyn Ferguson - Kate Keller, Joe`s wife - showed a wide range of emotions and congratulations must go not only to Carolyn but also to the Costume Department (Liz Santer and Daphne Brown) for choosing ensembles that captured the swinging moods of Kate. This was, to my mind, one of Carolyn`s best performances, in particular, her transition from drab looking, misery laden mother and housewife, to smart, up-beat wife.

Chris Keller, the surviving son, played by Dave Newton allowed Dave to show how well he could play both the romantic suitor and finally the disillusioned, enraged son. He has a wide range of facial expressions.

Laura Groves as Ann Deever, former fiancee of the dead Larry, whose affections become directed towards Chris, had probably the most difficult part as she had to remain calm, placatory yet firm in resolution when brother George - Alexander Howe - attempts to dissuade her from marrying Chris. There was opposition too from Kate but here different tactics had to be employed and I felt that Laura handled all these differing aspects of the Ann character most believably.

Alexander Howe playing the rather volatile brother, George Deever, looked and sounded just right for this part. Again, he too, had to contend with a variety of moods, all of which he managed with great success. His jaunty hat was very much of the period.

Other parts were interestingly played by a cheerful Glenys Lloyd-Williams as Sue Bayliss the wife of Dr. Jim Bayliss (Ian Moth), likeable neighbours of the Keller family. Tyler Franklin, amateur astrologist Frank Lubey and his wife, Lydia - Amelia Howard - also neighbours and of course, Bert as a pretend deputy, with Joe cast as the jailer. Thus, the inclusion of these neighbours was surely a device to add a little light relief to the story but also, in the case of Bert and even Frank, to introduce a premonition as to events that might - and did - lead to a tragic climax.

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