A View From The Bridge, Theatre Royal Haymarket Review
Written by Eleanor for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review.
A View From The Bridge is a play by Arthur Miller, written in 1955. It first premiered in the same year, but then was later expanded to the standard two-act version which is known today. It is set in 1950s Brooklyn and centres around the Carbone family. Living in an Italian-American neighbourhood, Eddie (Dominic West) and his wife Beatrice (Kate Fleetwood) agree to house two illegal immigrants who have travelled to America to make a better life. But Eddie quickly regrets this decision when Rodolfo (Callum Scott Howells) falls in love with his niece Catherine (Nia Towle), who has raised since childhood. Eddie will stop at nothing to break up this relationship and to protect his niece. As the play progresses, not only does Eddie take increasingly extreme measures but we are also left to wonder what drives him and why he is so keen for Catherine to remain unmarried and in his home.
A View From The Bridge is an incredibly powerful and tragic text and, although this is my first time seeing it performed, I very much enjoyed this iteration. It brilliantly explores a wide range of emotions, with a host of compelling characters, and kept me on the edge of my seat. I was left in no doubt why this play’s return to London has been so highly anticipated.
The staging of this particular production (with a set designed by Peter McKintosh) is representational, rather than the kind of abstract and stripped-back staging which have become popular. The back wall, with its external staircases, gives the impression of the exterior of the house. In front, a movable table, chairs and other interior props represented the inside of Eddie and Beatrice's house and also the lawyer's office. I particularly enjoyed how lighting, by Paul Pyant, was used to show when characters were walking outside to then enter an indoor space or move from one scene to the next. It was simple but very effective. This was equally the case for the props; not many were used but their inclusion was helpful to give a sense of time and place. They also added drama to some key scenes. It all felt very intimate and added to the growing tension throughout the play, as the characters were not easily able to escape each other.
Tension is also managed in A View From The Bridge through the use of narration. Martian Marquez as the lawyer, Alfieri, maintains the structure of the story but also provides his own personal take on the events which are taking place and also alludes to the eventual outcomes. He foreshadows the tragic end to the play from his opening monologue onwards he shows how Eddie’s character traits make his final actions inevitable. Martian Marquez pitched this perfectly and captured this impending sense of doom, which made the play so compelling.
This entire cast play a vital role in exploring and communicating A View From The Bridge’s key themes. Dominic West leads the ensemble as protagonist Eddie. He excellently conveyed the character’s conflicting emotions surrounding his wife and niece and made his progression towards anger feel natural and understandable. He also brought a fair amount of comedy to the role, which I did not expect. For example, the way he tried to describe Rodolfo to Alfieri produced a number of titters across the audience, as did some of his misguided attempts at parenting. But I did appreciate these moments of levity as it made the more serious scenes all the more compelling and suspenseful. Kate Fleetwood as the caring and perceptive Beatrice was an equally strong performance; constantly battling against Eddie to protect her family and, although seemingly overlooked by him, is faithful to the end. Nia Towle as Catherine was one of my favourite performances. She really captured Catherine's age well, in regards to her being on the cusp of adulthood but also in some ways behaving like a child. I loved the moments where she was able to fully express her emotions, leading to some of the most dramatic scenes. Her performance was truly captivating. But the standout for me had to be Callum Scott Howells as Rodolpho. Although I cannot make a comment on his accent (or any of the Italian-American accents, for that matter), the way he said every line was pitch perfect. He gave humorous exaggerations and delivery for some lines which I really enjoyed. Scott Howells’ performance was excellent in the sense that you could see why Catherine could love him, but also why Eddie could distrust him. I also enjoyed how different his character was when compared to Pierro Neil-Mee as Marco. These two brothers couldn't be any less alike, but also brilliantly demonstrate the varying reasons why people travel to America.
Overall, this production of A View from the Bridge is a must-see for its compelling performances and dramatic story. Its discussion of impactful themes such as love, responsibility and honour made for a compelling story. They are also explored in depth by a range of brilliant performances. I loved how this intimate setting and use of a narrator built the tension to a dramatic climax. This Arthur Miller classic is one I had never experienced before but very much enjoyed and would certainly recommend.
A View From The Bridge is playing at Theatre Royal Haymarket from the 22nd May 2024 – 3rd August 2024.
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
