The Jewish Theatre of Bloomington's production of Arthur Miller's The Price brings artists with different perspectives together for the performance.
Director Mark Kamie was only in ninth grade when he first encountered Miller. "I read and saw a production of The View From the Bridge. I was struck by Miller's vision of normal people as possible tragic heroes. Later, in high school, I acted in The Crucible. Since then, I've read more of the plays. For this production I'm particularly interested in the influence that "theatre of absurd" had on Miller's writing. So, we'll have a piece that's definitely realistic drama, but with some absurd touches."
Veteran actor Richard Massery is especially interested in the way his character, Victor a former policeman interacts with his doctor brother, Walter. "When the family fortune vanished in the depression, Victor quit college, became a cop and supported his father. I think he expected Walter to help, but that didn't work out. The two are forced to meet for the first time in sixteen years to divide up the household. It's a very tense, very Miller time. The pain of both loving an older brother and being bitterly disappointed with him is a very complicated burden."
Jeff Stone, who actually acted with Massery in college years and years ago, has a third perspective on the piece. "My character is the one with the outside view. He's a wily old guy who's buying the stuff that the brothers are splitting up. In some ways he pulls the threads of their stories together. I also have to add that in addition to his moments of insight and wisdom. He's a very funny character."