December 11th, 2015 – A View Fom The Bridge at Shubert’s – Lyceum Theatre opened November 12th, 2015 and closes February 21st, 2016. It runs 2 hours without intermission and was written by Arthur Miller (10/17/1915 – 02/10/2005 – Tony’s for – The Crucible, Death of a Salesman and All My Sons, and directed by Ivo van Hove. It originally ran at the Coronet Theatre from Sept 1955 to February 1956 and revived in 1983, 1987 and 2010 before the current revival.

The story is set in Red Hook, Brooklyn, New York near the Brooklyn Bridge. It is that of a longshoreman Eddie Carbone, his wife Bernice and his niece Catherine. Catherine’s mother died and Eddie promised to take care of her. He was oppressive in his smothering love for her, not permitting her to date and go out. His wife’s cousins Marco and Rodolfo arrived from Italy and lived with them, while getting settled. Gradually Catherine falls madly in love with one of these immigrants. Eddie strongly objects and does all in his power to break the bond. There is a strong family interaction and jealousies resulting in a bloodbath as Eddie calls the Immigration Service, reporting the illegal aliens.

The play drags in places, but is a brilliant dramatic piece. The set is a blank space, reminiscent of a boxing ring, with the rope sides replaced with a bench. Some audience sit on either side of the stage, giving the semblance of theatre in the round. The simple set permits the viewers to focus on the action without the clutter. It is very effective, provided the actors are able to perform their roles brilliantly. It is a strong drama, riveting in parts and brought over from the West End (London).

Eddie Carbone’s (Mark Strong – Olivier Award for A View From The Bridge and performed in numerous West End & Shakespeare productions) performance is masterful and keeps the show flowing and tense. The lawyer / narrator Alfieri (Michael Gould – Broadway Debut, but many West End & Shakespeare) does a reasonable job. Catherine (Phoebe Fox – Broadway Debut but many West End credits) is outstanding and maintains her demanding role. The immigrants fulfill their roles adequately. The wife Beatrice Carbone – Nicola Walker (Broadway Debut, Olivier Award for “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time) is the weakest of the cast, together with the two immigrants. The immigrants – Rodolpho (Russel Tovey – The History Boy’s, originated in London and has done numerous West End productions) does what he does adequately and Marco (Michael Zegen – Debut) was acceptable.

In summary, if you enjoy the legendary Arthur Miller and a good solid drama, filled with suspense, this show is one for you, but remember it is sitting for 2 Hours.