A View from the Bridge

STCSA A View from the Bridge - photo by James HartleyThe first Arthur Miller piece State Theatre Company South Australia has brought to the stage in almost 10 years, Helpmann Award winner Kate Champion’s electric new version of A View from the Bridge will play the Dunstan Playhouse from 12 July 2019.

Set in Red Hook, Brooklyn, New York City, Miller’s 1955 masterwork has at its centre, Eddie Carbone – a longshoreman who Miller describes as having ‘eyes like tunnels’. Eddie has pulled himself up from nothing, creating a life for himself and his wife Beatrice and her niece Catherine through sheer force of will.

Wanting to do the right thing by Beatrice and his community, he takes in two illegal immigrants from Italy – Beatrice’s cousins Rodolpho and Marco. When a romantic spark appears between Catherine and Rodolpho, Eddie is forced to wrestle with his shadow self.

A timeless story propelled by a man with a fatal flaw, A View from the Bridge is an exploration of unrequited love, abusive patriarchal power, the American dream and immigration. The landmark drama sits alongside The Crucible, All My Sons and Death of A Salesman as one of Miller’s greatest works.

Directed by Kate Champion, a cast of Adelaide favourites including Mark Saturno (Vale, Blasted), Elena Carapetis (Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, Macbeth) Antoine Jelk (Long Tan) and State Theatre Company newcomer Maiah Stewardson (Girl Asleep) will bring the explosive production into the new age. They are joined by Brett Archer, Chris Asimos, Bill Allert and Dale March.

Contemporary costumes by Enken Hagge, a dock-inspired set of heavy ropes and crates by Victoria Lamb and a soaring score by Jason Sweeney will work to create what Champion calls “a floating time capsule” – while still honouring ‘50s Brooklyn.

“This classic play, with its underlying themes of immigration and the contamination of a family unit by its forceful patriarch, is an alluring challenge for any director,” says Champion. “I look forward to discovering its rich and substantial relevance to our present day with this new production.”

Director: Kate Champion Featuring: Brett Archer, Bill Allert, Elena Carapetis, Antoine Jelk, Chris Asimos, Dale March, Mark Saturno, Maiah Stewardson Set Designer: Victoria Lamb Costume Designer: Enken Hagge Lighting Designer: Chris Petridis Composer and Sound Designer: Jason Sweeney Accent Coach: Jennifer Innes Choreographer: Martin Hughes Assistant Director: Clara Solly-Slade Lighting Design Secondment: Meg Wilson


A View from the Bridge
Dunstan Playhouse – Adelaide Festival Centre, King William Road, Adelaide
Season: 16 July – 3 August 2019 (previews: 12 – 15 July)
Information and Bookings: www.statetheatrecompany.com.au

Image: Mark Saturno stars as Eddie Carbone in A View from the Bridge – photo by James Hartley