Review by Alice
Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review.
What is the measurement for life? Is there a monetary value? Arthur Miller’s 1967 play' The Price' is revived at the Marylebone Theatre, a relatively new performance space, which usually brings to the stage newer writing, but here goes for a classic.
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| Photo by Mark Senior. |
Entering the auditorium, you are treated to a stunning visual. 'The Price' is set in an attic filled with furniture, lights, clothes, a harp, a gramophone, fencing swords and you see it all. It's a deep stage and every inch is meticulously filled. What was a shame was the raking of the seating in this fresh space. Once the near sold-out audience was seated, much of this precision could not be seen, and I spent most of my time dodging left and right to keep an eye on the actors. A real shame that in a new theatre the audience's viewpoint hasn't been thought through fully, but that's an aside.
So, what is the premise?
Set in Manhattan, Victor is up for retirement from being a policeman (a job he has been stuck in and has abhorred). He plans to sell off his late father's furniture in the attic and use the money to go on holiday with his wife, but half of the furniture belongs to his estranged brother who is a successful doctor. Friction, questions about the past...the comments and foreshadowing of a throwaway society. This could be written for now, a reteaching to the current generation about the lack of care of the previous.
Miller was a master at writing theatre that seems forever relevant and 'The Price' is no different. However, I do feel modern audiences prefer a shorter piece of theatre. At 2 hours and 40 minutes (plus a 15-minute delay to starting for no apparent reason) this play would benefit from an edit to reduce any repetitive dialogue.
Directed by Jonathan Munby, who has applied a clear image to the play and its movement. At times, I would've liked to have seen the actors settle. Miller's dialogue is so good that you can let your performers stay in one position and command the stage with them, rather than the constant movement we were treated to for Act One.
The music to introduce Victor and the attic was timed perfectly and was a nice use of sound, giving the feeling that this unveiling was more cinematic rather than theatrical. The lighting did exactly what it needed to do, with a warm glow from various lamps throughout, and two strategically placed skylights, which gave the room some gloom. A nice juxtaposition which was perfectly fitting for the play.
However, an unexpected blackout was a real disappointment. But I must commend the actors who carried on faultlessly.
The costumes were excellent. A lot of time had clearly gone into the thought process of getting this right and it showed. The furniture, the suits, record player were all of a time. Sometimes this care is lost, but not here.
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| Photo by Mark Senior. |
This is a hugely wordy play and it was a shame in the opening scene that lines unintentionally overlapped. These minor mistakes early on can make any audience member feel a little edgy, but this was early on and did not return.
Victor Franz was played by Elliot Cowan, and Esther Franz by Faye Castelow. I would've liked a bit more from the two to draw me in. Their dialogue is humorous and filled with pathos, but their chemistry just didn't quite hit the mark for me. Their opening scene, which opens the play in particular, felt unnecessarily long, and this is exacerbated when Henry Goodman enters the stage as Gregory Solomon. His stage presence and characterisation were exquisite, pulling every ounce of comedy and sadness with his customised mannerisms and sharp wit. His performance was a Tour De Force.
As Act One comes to an end, we meet Walter Franz, played by John Hopkins, another nice lift which follows into Act Two. John Hopkins brings a subtle, yet powerful pressure to his performance and the back-and-forth in Act Two made the second act come alive.
Henry Goodman is the standout performance in 'The Price', but I must say Elliot Cowan, who is the only constant, does a wonderful shift in his character between both acts.
Victor Franz may seem a dull man at first, but some rivers run deep, and this is where Elliot shines and delivers a subtle yet dynamic performance.
Overall, 'The Price' is a well put-together show, which has relevance still. A four-hander, well-acted with a lead in mesmerising form.
For me, however, it was just a little too drawn out. Almost everything was right, and yet as a piece, it lacked a little shine.
The Price plays at Marylebone Theatre until Saturday 7th June 2026. For tickets and more information visit https://www.marylebonetheatre.com/productions/the-price
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| Photo by Mark Senior. |
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