Broadway Review-----DEATH OF A SALESMAN

There has been a great disservice done to this 2012 production of DEATH OF A SALESMAN....and that is the 1999 production of DEATH OF A SALESMAN. There are moments from the 1999 version that have remained a permanent part of my psyche. Brian Dennehy, Kevin Anderson, and Elizabeth Franz headlined that production and it remains one of the finest evenings in the theatre that I've ever experienced. It's highly unfair to compare the two productions, but since they are the only two productions I've seen, I must. This new version stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Linda Emond, Andrew Garfield, and is directed by Mike Nichols. It is staged on the original set designed by Jo Mielziner and utilizes the original score composed by Alex North. Everything about this production is perfectly fine....it's just not AS good as the 1999 and I think 13 years is just too soon for me to try and thoroughly evict the memory from my head. Philip Seymour Hoffman does very strong work here. Yes, he's too young but Dustin Hoffman was in his 40's when he played the role on Broadway also. However, Dustin Hoffman shaved his head and changed his physical appearance to look older. The "other" Mr. Hoffman has some white in his hair and that's it. So to me, at times, it felt like I was watching a college performer attempting to play older. I don't mean that as a slam against the actual performance because it's quite good....it was just my own mind not allowing myself to believe that he truly was Willy Loman. Linda Emond does some nice things as Linda, but again, it's not fair but the definitive Linda Loman for me will always be Elizabeth Franz. Ms Emond's "attention must be paid" scene just doesn't have the weight that the Franz moment had. Not to mention the final moment at the gravesite which was utterly heartbreaking in 1999 and in 2012 unfortunately just has the feel of "end of play". The real standout in this production is Andrew Garfield. He is truly outstanding as Biff. There is not a false move made in his performance. Incredibly impressive and it is my hope that next Tuesday we hear his name called as a nominee for Best Featured Actor in a Play. The supporting cast is terrific with special mention of John Glover as Willy's brother, Ben. I found Mike Nichol's work a bit sluggish. It's not the disaster that his recent production of THE COUNTRY GIRL was, not even close. But if there was one thing that I was not while watching the 1999 version, it was bored. Tonight, I found my mind wandering. It just didn't always keep my interest. There are several productions of shows that I have seen on Broadway that have affected me so much that I purposely chose not to see again because I didn't want that original viewing tainted....the CABARET Revival, THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, and WAR HORSE for example. What tonight taught me is that after seeing a definitive production of DEATH OF A SALESMAN 13 years ago, I need never see any other. Again....this is a disservice to a hard working Cast and a legendary Director, but the 2012 DEATH OF A SALESMAN unfortunately lives in the shadow of a perfect and timeless 1999 version.