Theater

In the pantheon of the American theater, three playwrights rule supreme:

Arthur Miller, Eugene O’Neill and Tennessee Williams.

Each produced an estimable body of work, including a hallmark by which

each would forever be evaluated. For O’Neill, it was “Long Day’s Journey

Into Night”; for Williams, “A Streetcar Named Desire”; and for Miller,

“Death of a Salesman.”

Miller, the sole survivor of the trio, enjoyed his greatest fame in the

1940s and ‘50s with such classics as “Salesman” and “The Crucible.” He

turned the memories of his brief marriage to screen goddess Marilyn

Monroe into a powerful play, “After the Fall.”

He’s also is the emperor of the serious drama. Whereas O’Neill allowed

himself a bit of whimsy in “Ah, Wilderness” and Williams found his sense

of humor in “Period of Adjustment,” Miller has maintained a grim

countenance.

Given that Miller’s heyday was a half-century ago, it might seem strange

that he seems to be the flavor of the month among local theater groups.

Yet, here he is with “A View From the Bridge” at the Newport Theater Arts

Center and the upcoming “All My Sons” on the main stage of South Coast

Repertory.

“All My Sons,” which opens Feb. 25 at SCR, was the play that introduced

Miller to Broadway audiences in 1947, two years after the end of World

War II. Miller’s play examines the home-front decisions that affected

combat maneuvers, countering America’s patriotic bravado with a sobering,

dark element.

If the American theater has a living legend, it definitely is Miller.

That his works remain vital from the 1940s to the new century certainly

is testimony to his place in theater’s hall of fame.

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Speaking of South Coast Repertory, the Costa Mesa company has garnered

another prestigious trophy to join the Tony in its lobby.

SCR recently won the “outstanding achievement award” for excellence in

American theater from the National Theater Conference, an association of

theater producers, educational leaders and nonprofit theater artists.

Martin Benson, who co-founded the company with David Emmes in 1964 and is

directing “All My Sons,” flew to New York to accept the award on behalf

of the theater.

Another award recipient at the ceremony was Nilo Cruz, whose “Two Sisters

and a Piano” had its West Coast premiere at SCR last year.

In presenting the award, Cal State Fullerton professor Jim Volz

proclaimed SCR “America’s leading proponent of new play development, a

friend to actors and playwrights nationwide and the most exciting theater

west of London.”

The New Voices Playwrights Workshop has a “night at the beach” planned

Sunday, presenting staged readings of “The Beach Plays” on the sandy set

of “Coastal Disturbances” at the Costa Mesa Civic Playhouse.

Eight plays, all with beach settings, will be presented at the 7:30 p.m.

event at the playhouse, 611 Hamilton St. Admission is $5 and information

is dispensed at (949) 225-4125.

The company, dedicated to the creation of original works, will be back in

action March 25 for two weekends, with a program titled “The Bed Plays.”