War crimes, family secrets will clash on Pentacle stage

What would happen if a family's darkest secrets were exposed in one day? Celebrated American playwright Arthur Miller explored that question when he wrote "All My Sons" in the 1940s.

The classic drama will open at Pentacle Theatre on Friday, April 17. Directed by Jeff Sanders, the play explores the dynamics of an all-American family and the price of the American dream.

"It's exciting in some ways that dramas aren't," Sanders said. "Miller was going to give up play writing if this one didn't sell. His goal was to write a hit, and he did." The drama won the New York Drama Critics' Award for Best Play in 1947.

Miller based the play on a true story about the owners of a machine shop who produced defective airplane engines for military use during World War II. The plot follows the consequences of Miller's fictionalized owners of the business. One went to prison for the deaths of soldiers who used the planes. The other, Joe Keller, escaped punishment and became wealthy.

The play is set in 1946. The Keller family continues to hope for the return of their son Larry, who went missing in action during the war. Without giving too much away, the events of the past come to a reckoning.

"The dynamics in this family are fascinating ... very universal," Sanders said. "They're real. They're relatable. I like the things that it says about responsibility to family, society and the world at large ... It's a timely piece right now in terms of our coming out of a period of war. There's been a lot of talk about making money off of war, the reasons we go to war, and that is a huge undercurrent in the play."

Veteran actor Robert Herzog plays the patriarch Joe, a part he performed at Pentacle more than two decades ago.

"The play is humanity versus business," Herzog said. "That conflict is within Joe."

Robynn Hayek plays Kate, the Keller matriarch. Kate is struggling with the loss of her son.

"This is one of the most challenging roles I've ever done because she has so much subtext. There's so much happening underneath," Hayek said. "Because it happens in a 24-hour period. It gives a different taste to it all, the immediacy of it. It's a roller coaster that goes very fast."

David Ballantyne portrays son Chris, who has a secret of his own.

"The first thing I noticed is how lean of a script it is," Ballantyne said. "There's no fat. In some ways, it feels contemporary because a play from the '40s, sometimes those plays are three hours long with two intermissions. This play feels bottled up. When it gets uncorked, it spills out so quickly."

"All My Sons" is 69 pages, which is short for a play. The production has mild profanity. Sanders said it should be appropriate for teens.

"This play has a really beautiful, simple, suspenseful and kind of sneak-up-on-you fierce presentation of family dynamics," Sanders said.

The cast members are confident audiences will be moved by the production. "When all the secrets overlap in this show, it's intoxicating," Ballantyne said.

TRastrelli@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 983-6030, facebook.com/RastrelliSJ and on Twitter @RastrelliSJ

If you go

What: "All My Sons" by Arthur Miller, directed by Jeff Sanders

Where: Pentacle Theatre, 324 52nd Ave. NW

When: 7:30 p.m. April 17-18, 23-25, 29-30 and May 1-2 and 6-9, plus 2 p.m. April 19, 26 and May 3

Tickets: $18 for weekday performances and $19 for weekend performances; seniors, students, military and members receive a $1.50 discount. There is an additional $2 fee on opening night for the catered postshow party. Available at the Pentacle ticket office, 145 Liberty St. NE, by calling (503) 485-4300 or at pentacletheatre.org.

Tickets for low-income persons: In partnership with Salem for All, Pentacle Theatre offers two-for-one tickets to Oregon Trail Card holders. Purchase at the theater box office on the day of the show. For information, go to salemforall.org.