^{Photo: Joe Kenehan
William Zielinski and Stacy Fischer as Willy and Linda Loman.}

Review by Mia Phillips

The Harbor Stage Company’s production of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman proves that great theater doesn’t require expensive sets or extensive cast lists, just exceptional performances. The show is thoughtfully heavy, touching on themes of disillusionment and betrayal, and extremely relevant as the American dream continues to be redefined. While the cast for this tale of an American salesman losing his grip on the American Dream is made up of only four characters, this deepens the audience connection to the play by allowing for deeply intimate and powerful scenes. Set designers displayed great resourcefulness as the prop list could easily fit on a Post-it note, which for a show lasting over two hours is very impressive. Creative solutions were in full effect to bring Willy Loman’s dynamic and complex narrative to life: using stage walls to project prerecorded actors into scenes; props as multi-purpose instruments to guide the story along; as well as voice-overs to give audiences a window into the tortured protagonists distorted reality. 

But it was up to the actors to invite the audience into this world. Acting when your scene partner is being projected onto the wall is certainly no easy task, however William Zielinski who portrays Willy Loman, makes it look like a walk in the park. Zielinski demonstrates not only excellent memorization and timing abilities, but also a profound understanding and connection to his character. Everything he does on stage is a tactful technique of keeping the audience tapped into the world Willy Loman inhabits. Willy’s wife, Linda Loman played by Stacy Fischer, and two sons, Happy and Biff Loman played by Jack Aschenbach and Alex Pollock, contextualize their patriarchs’ manic behavior. Fischer puts on a gutting performance that invites audiences to share in her character’s frustrations and pains. She seems to tap into decades worth of high hopes and disappointments held by decades of housewives whose entire lives were lived through their husbands and sons. Aschenbach and Pollock follow in their fictional family’s footsteps with equally passionate and hard-hitting performances that leave audiences questioning the legitimacy of the American Dream. 

At the Harbor Stage Company, any seat could be the best seat in the house. The small venue gives audiences a uniquely charming and intimate theater experience. Located on the water, patrons are able to enjoy their intermission watching the sunset over the harbor. Given the heavy scenes depicted on stage during this production, it’s a perfect view to reflect upon. 

Death of a Salesman is performed Wednesdays – Saturdays, 7 p.m. and Sundays, 5 p.m. through August 2 at the Harbor Stage, 15 Kendrick Ave., Wellfleet. For tickets ($25/$40/$50 plus online fee) and information call 508.349.6800 or visit harborstage.org. Friday, July 18, tickets are pay-what-you-can.