A View From The Bridge - Theater Review

The essence of Arthur Miller's writing is based in its unevitability of masks. With the revival of the play "A View From The Bridge" [Cort Theater/Broadway/NYC], the perspective becomes one of honor versus bigotry. The realization of course is based in the fact of an intelligent but ignorant man who cannot see beyond the perception of his own house. The sets are fluid and revolving within the auspice of a packed house. The most relevant part and the most taxing lies in the element of the head of the household played with undeniable preciseness and vigor by Liev Shreiber. The man is in full control of his abilities with every point emphasized by an effortlessness of performance where every facet of his ideology seeming organic in its placement. Balancing this in utter balance is his wife played by Jennifer Hecht. They are at every point pushing and pulling without threatening their underlying love or problems which are barely scratched at, though inferred heavily. From the moment of her protection of him to her critical nature to her ultimate vision of his downfall, she keeps her internal life locked though you can see it pushing out the outlay.Scarlett Johansson offers a dexterity of motion in her portrayal of the blossoming niece becoming a woman who is infatuated by the idea of the life outside but held back by the inevitability of her loyalty to her uncle. As with all Miller plays, subtlety is the key. Scarlett is not prone to subtlety but gives a brimming innocence and enthusiasm to her portrayal which is viscerally countered by Liev's gripping hand. The progression of this show (unlike something also set in the past [ala West Side Story]) is that its perspective is timeless despite any interlacing facts from the early 20th Century. It also shows that the necessity of vulgarity in terms of profanity is not needed in all plays to emphasize a point (not that one is against such things) but this story works for the absence of it. Invigorating and intensive in its playability but nevertheless tragic, "A View From The Bridge" works in its rawness because it realizes and embraces its faults. Out of 5, I give it a 3 1/2.