WHS Company to Perform Arthur Miller's "All My Sons" this Weekend

This weekend, WHS Company will present All My Sons, a heart-thumping, heart-breaking American classic written by Arthur Miller, in the high school auditorium. Directed by Nancy Ponturo and set in 1947, this post-World War II drama examines the secrets and sorrows of an Ohio family in the wake of their eldest son Larry, who went missing during the war. When Ann Deever, Larry’s fiancée, arrives in the hopes of marrying his brother, Chris Keller, familial chaos ensures under the sight of the Kellers’ watchful neighbors.

“[Arthur Miller] is the master craftsman of storytelling, slowly peeling back the layers until you get the truth. Miller always demands restitution for the wrongs that were made,” Ponturo says of the playwright. The play deals with a roller coaster of emotions throughout a family dynamic, and how secrets and lies can unravel a family. While heavy, the themes are largely centralized around the idea of loyalty and love. With the purpose surrounding family, this show is one that everyone can relate to in some capacity— especially in a tight-knit town like Weston.

Weston High School junior Ben Rosenberg and sophomore Remy Young play two of the Keller family's neighbors, Jim and Sue Bayliss, among a cast of ten students. Young says of the small-cast creative process, “Everyone can dig deep into their character. People are eager to know their lines, to be able to give the best performance than they can.” Stage manager Avery Roche agrees with this sentiment, adding, “Due to the size of the cast, it's so intimate. Everyone's really gotten a chance to know each other and learned how to act off of each other. I would say it's very different from anything we've done. It's not drama as in it's serious the whole time. There are fun aspects and there are dramatic aspects as well.”

With the help of an expansive technical team covering lights, sound, costumes, scenery, and more, the cast is prepared to execute this deeply moving piece. Rather than just the significance of honoring Arthur Miller, Hope Goodrich, assistant stage manager and makeup chair says that “What brings the show to life is the actors. It really helps to have a dedicated cast.”

Rosenberg says of the play’s resolution, “Keller learns by the end that a larger community than just his family is at stake and begins to realize the repercussions of his actions on a broader scale.”

All My Sons will be performed at Weston High School on Friday and Saturday at 7:30, and Sunday at 3:00pm. Tickets are on sale at www.whscompany.com.