Capital City Players to put on Arthur Miller play

Joe Keller, right, played by Warren Krech, comes face to face with his secret past when World War II vet George Deever (Caleb Forrest), pays a visit to the Keller home during a recent rehearsal for the Capital City Players' upcoming production of Arthur Miller's "All My Sons" at Shikles Auditorium.
Joe Keller, right, played by Warren Krech, comes face to face with his secret past when World War II vet George Deever (Caleb Forrest), pays a visit to the Keller home during a recent rehearsal for the Capital City Players' upcoming production of Arthur Miller's "All My Sons" at Shikles Auditorium.
  • What: "All My Sons" by Capital City Players.
  • When: Feb. 28, March 1-2, March 6-9; evening shows at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 12:30 p.m.
  • Where: Shikles Auditorium
  • Tickets: $35 which includes dinner buffet by Argyle Catering. Call 573-681-9012 or order online at capitalcityplayers.com.

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Playwright Arthur Miller's 1947 play "All My Sons" is the current presentation by Capital City Players.

This was Miller's first successfully produced play, and it won a Tony Award.

Directed by Ken Thompson, it is the post-World War II story of the Kellers, a seemingly average all-American family. But Joe, the charming, loving patriarch of the family, played by Warren Krech, is harboring a secret. On one fateful summer day, his past begins to unravel. Desperately, Joe and his wife Kate, played by Laura Morris, struggle to hold their family together.

Thompson classifies this as a heavy drama with the social commentary that made Miller famous.

"This is a post-war play, so themes that run in it are relevant even today - nationalism and support for soldiers away on duty. A lot of what is said in this play is still what we talk about today," Thompson said.

In this aspect, audiences should identify with the theme and characters.

Thompson, who is known for his stage work and his technical work, said directing is a different stress because he has to look at the whole picture for the show.

The rest of the cast includes: Steve Kretzer as Keller's son; Margaret Graham as Ann Deever; and Caleb Forest, Jerico Whitaker, Rachel Steinmeier, Justin Allison, Lainie Vansant and Jackson Lamb.

Technically, the set was a fun part of the show, Thompson said, because the play takes place in the backyard of the Keller home. Thompson and Kip Neblett are responsible for the design and construction for this middle-class setting.

Lighting also was slightly more complicated because there are both day and night scenes, requiring different settings. Ashley Cook and Mary Jo Graham are creating and carrying out these effects.

Thompson also credits Kathleen Lavery for valuable assistance as production manager.

"The show has been an enjoyable experience as a director, and hopefully audiences will become involved as the characters evolve throughout the play," Thompson said.