Rehearsals for Bairnsdale Production Line Theatre Company’s (BPLTC) October season of Death of a Salesman are getting serious as the cast prepare to take to the stage next month in this classic American drama.
Set in 1949, the play examines the realities of trying to achieve the American Dream and the damage one man can inflict on his family in pursuit of the impossible.
Playing the part of antagonist, Willy Loman, is David Cubley. David’s past credits with BPLTC include directing 2022 musical, Grease, in addition to appearing onstage in the full-length play Murder on Cue in 2023, and more recently as wealthy entrepreneur, Elisha Whitney in the 2024 musical, Anything Goes.
Considered a dream role by many actors, David is thrilled to be taking on the challenging role of Willy.
“The opportunity to play Willy Loman doesn’t come along very often and now that I’ve got it, it’s quite a daunting prospect,” he said
“It’s important to me that I present him as authentically as possible. He’s a complex character but it would be easy to play him as a caricature.
I hope I can impart the depth of emotional trauma that the writer intended.”
Standing beside Willy through his delusions of grandeur is his long-suffering wife, Linda, played by Jean Russell. Jean shared the stage with David in the retirement home comedy, Murder on Cue in 2023, and has also featured in BPLTC’s one-act plays for the past two years.
Jean is enjoying the change of pace that Death of a Salesman offers, noting Linda is a difficult role to bring to life, but one many women can relate to.
“I think Linda copes with Willy the only way she knows how, the only way many women know – she pretends everything is just fine. In her mind, it’s the only way to protect him from himself,” Jean said.
In the roles of adult sons, Biff and Happy, are two Production Line newcomers, Jack Andrewartha as Biff, and Will Hardy as Happy. Jack inadvertently found himself in a small speaking role for Anything Goes last May, after being recruited from the backstage crew at the last minute.
Biff is in his first full acting role and what a role it is, having been played by the likes of John Malkovich and Andrew Garfield.
“I’m so nervous but also so excited to be trusted with such a coveted part.
I’m learning so much from everyone involved – there is just so much talent here, how could I not? I’m hoping that their experience will rub off on me,” Jack said.
Newest company player, Will Hardy, might be familiar to those who saw Sale Theatre Company/Maffra Dramatic Society’s recent production of The Boy From Oz, with Will in the lead role of song and dance man, Peter Allen.
Speaking of the transition from Allen to Happy, Will noted that the hardest part
has been letting go of Allen’s camp demeanour.
“Happy thinks of himself as quite the ladies’ man, so it’s quite the change in character,” he said.
Death of a Salesman will open on Friday, October 18, for a total of six performances over two weekends, concluding on Sunday, October 27.
An early bird discount applies to all tickets booked by September 20, while a portion of each ticket sold for opening night will be donated to the St Vincent de Paul Assistance Centre Bairnsdale.
More information can be found on the Production Line website and Facebook page, as well as the Forge Theatre and Arts Hub website.
