All My Sons - Altrincham Garrick

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JOE Keller lives in comfort in a safe and sleepy small town. He epitomises the American dream, a successful businessman with a doting wife and a son who similarly looks up to him.

But peel back the veneer of respectability with which Keller surrounds himself and you discover his has a skeleton in his cupboard which is slowly unlocked in Arthur Miller’s fabulously thought provoking play.

The master playwright makes the audience question the morality of making money in wartime as only this master playwright, this giant of contemporary theatre, knows how.

It’s hard to believe All My Sons celebrates its 75th birthday this year for it feels as fresh and as relevant today in a troubled world still scarred by conflict.

This is David Beddy’s best Garrick performance to date for me, with the seasoned actor/director investing so much emotion into the role of Keller spontaneous combustion seems like a distinct possibility.

He and Tom Broughton, who plays his son Joe, are terrific together, especially during the scenes in which Joe tries to make his dethroned dad confront his past. To say these scenes are heated would be an understatement.

Even sitting on the back row of the auditorium I could feel the tension between the two of them.

Equally impressive is Brigid Hemmingway as Kate Keller, a devoted wife to Joe and fiercely proud of her son Chris. She’s still holding out hope for the safe return of her other son Larry from fighting in the war.

I really enjoyed Katie Cullen’s Annie, a bright and engaging and very watchable performance by a talented young actress.

And Joe Meighan swaps the director’s chair to serve up a very convincing performance as Annie’s brother George, a man with a very real fire in his belly.

You’ll understand why and have the uttmost sympathy for this fiery figure if you go to see this very emotional evening of theatre.

Carole Carr’s production is flawless throughout, compelling, absorbing, moving and funny in places, making the most of Miller’s intelligent and insightful script.

Until November 19. Tickets are available from 0161 928 1677 or www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk

Star rating - ****