The Concord Players Present
Arthur Miller's THE PRICE

 

directed by
Jim Murphy

produced by
Gail Gauthier

 

Go to Private Eyes
Go to The Rivals

81st Season, 2001
February 9, 10, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24

The Price tells the story of two brothers estranged for sixteen years-one a successful surgeon; the other a policeman-who reunite in an old brownstone attic to dispose of their deceased father's belongings and to battle over the past that the furniture represents. The furniture, which is desired by a comic 89-year-old Jewish antiques dealer, provides the occasion for the brothers to confront their feelings about each other, their father, the family, and their own lives.

The conflict, the basic jealousy and the lifetime of, if not hatred, at least corrosive, though unacknowledged anger, is between two brothers, as well as resentment against a selfish, child-devouring father. The siblings meet, after a 16 year estrangement, in the attic of the family residence, where the old furniture is to be disposed of. The first is a policeman who sacrificed his education and probably a career as a scientist to care for his ruined, invalid father. The other, who arrives late, is an eminent surgeon who walked out on the demands of family to concentrate on medicine and personal success. Miller works up to the showdown scene slowly. The policeman and his wife first talk of the past and the present to fill in some of the background. Then there is a very long, richly amusing, curiously revealing and enjoyable scene between the policeman and a marvelously crotchety, humorous and wise old Jewish dealer who has come to buy the furniture but refuses to set a price without prolonged philosophic conversation. When the surgeon arrives, the brothers take a little time for the amenities and feeling each other out before the basis of their long alienation and mutual bitterness emerges into short, blunt, enraged accusations. It is a taut, exciting and superbly theatrical scene, and it reveals the characters, including strengths and weaknesses, of the brothers to each other and themselves - as well as to the audience.

The Price originally opened on Broadway on February 7, 1968 at the Morosco Theatre and ran for 429 performances. Ulu Grosbard directed a cast that included Harold Gary, Pat Hingle, Arthur Kennedy, and Kate Reid. The play received two Tony Award nominations, including one for best play. George C. Scott received an Emmy Award for an acclaimed television production of the play, which co-starred Colleen Dewhurst.

 

auditions
rehearsal
production

 


 

The Cast
Ester Franz
Leslie Wagner
Victor Franz
Jackson Royal
Walter Franz
James
Grana
Gregory Solomon
Jack
Sweet

 

The Production Crew
Director
Producer
Gail Gauthier
Stage Mgr
Judy Forgione
Props
Heddie Kent
Lights
Susan Tucker
Sound

Michael Finke

Set Design
Susan Sanders
Set construction
David Atwood
Set construction crew
Charlie Atherton
Costumes
Gladys Foreman
Make up
Birgitta Knuttgen
publicity
Stefanie Cloutier
Photography
Rik Pierce
Program
Iain Bason

 

Arthur Miller Links

Kennedy Center Honors Arthur Miller

Go to Private EyesGo to The Rivals