A Timeless Tragedy of Ambition Arrives in Dundas

As Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman takes the stage at Dundas Little Theatre, it remains a searing indictment of hollow ambition and desperation. We invited veteran actor Bruce Edwards to enlighten us on his thoughts about theatre in general, and specifically his journey in the role of Willy Loman.

“Theatre is a mysterious and exciting thing to me.  Our frantic daily lives often tend to create superficial relations with others. Theatre slows you down.  When you’re acting, the main thing is to do your job: to connect with the person out there onstage with you.  It's frightening to think that you’re putting every thought into the nuances, the calibration of hand gestures or voice intonations in a way that you don’t in everyday life. But it makes you feel incredibly alive.  If the audience can feel that radiating off you, there’s a symbiosis.  A way to engage with each other and ponder what we're all doing here on this planet.

As to what the Death of A Salesman audience may feel? A lot of things, I hope.  While anger at the characters’ self-destructiveness is inevitable, the thing we all hope for most is empathy and compassion.  There’s always been an argument over whether Willy is a tragic figure or not. I’ve always found a split between those who mourned his failure to achieve his dream, either for himself and those who felt anger and contempt for the ruin and pain he brought on himself and his family. Willy has an “incorruptible dream” to which he is passionately dedicated.  He is deluded in that belief, but that makes his commitment no less impressive in my mind. 

How do I connect with Willy?  I guess we are all guilty of doing at least a little of the above, and we all have our regrets over wrong choices and unachieved dreams.  I don't know whether I am a method actor or a character actor.  I don't overthink it.  I proceed intuitively.  When I'm out there, I want to feel like I am that person in that circumstance.  That's all.”

DEATH OF A SALESMAN by Arthur Miller

Directed by Matthew Willson, Produced by Valerie Van Landschoot and David Faulkner-Rundle

Dundas Little Theatre

37 Market Street South, Dundas, Hamilton, Ontario

Tickets: Box Office 905-627-5266 or at dundaslittletheatre.com/tickets

$27 regular, $22 seniors and students (with ID)

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