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Mitchell Pays The Price in Tricycle's Miller Revival

Warren Mitchell (pictured), aka TV's 'Alf Garnett', leads the cast in a rare London revival of Arthur Miller's tragic-comedy The Price, which begins previews this Thursday (24 October 2002) at north London's Tricycle Theatre. The production - also starring Larry Lamb, Sian Thomas and Des McAleer - opens on 28 October and continues to 7 December 2002.

Solomon (Mitchell) is a 90-year-old furniture dealer looking for a bargain. He engages his clients by forcing them into long-winded, philosophical discussions about life and the universe, posing astutely as the man who has 'seen it all before'. When he finds himself in the middle of an uneasy reunion between two long estranged brothers, it seems he might have met his match.

Vic (Lamb) is a police officer who sacrificed his education and ambition to take care of his ruined and manipulative father. His brother Walter (McAleer), now a wealthy doctor, has always put himself first but now wants to make amends by helping Vic get the best deal possible for their father's possessions. The haggling over the price of furniture exposes a story of missed opportunities and past resentments, raising the price of choices that were made.

The Price was written in 1968 and revived on Broadway in 2000. Considered one of America’s foremost playwrights of the 20th century, Miller’s many other plays include A View from the Bridge, The Crucible, All My Sons and Death of a Salesman, for which he won the Pulitzer Prize.

Mitchell, best known as the objectionable 'Alf Garnett' in TV's long-running Till Death Do Us Part, has worked extensively in theatre, in Britain and Australia, over his 40-year career. His recent stage credits include Marc in Art, Max in Peter Hall's The Homecoming and Willy Loman in Miller's Death of a Salesman. He was last seen on stage in Sydney's Ensemble Theatre production of The Price.

Lamb, also an Art veteran, has appeared on stage in the West End, at the Donmar Warehouse, Royal Court and Almeida theatres and was most recently seen in the RSC's production of Prisoner's Dilemma. His screen credits include Our Friends in the North, A Touch of Frost and Supply and Demand. McAleer has just completed a run in the Tricycle's production of Carlo Gebler's 10 Rounds. His other theatre credits include The Weir and The Rivals while, amongst his film credits, are Angela's Ashes and Touching Evil.

Thomas' many West End credits include Feelgood, House and Garden, Sleep With Me, A Delicate Balance and King Lear. Earlier this year, she appeared opposite Madonna in the UK premiere of Up for Grabs.

The Price is directed by Sean Holmes, whose recent productions include The Roman Actor (RSC) and Comedians (Oxford Stage). It's designed by Anthony Lamble, with lighting is by Simon Bennison. It's presented at the Tricycle in association with TEG Productions.

After The Price, the Tricycle's autumn season continues with the UK premiere production of August Wilson's King Hedley II. It runs in London from 9 December 2002 to 8 February 2003, following its initial dates from 14 November to 7 December 2002 at the Birmingham Rep, which is co-producing (See News, 24 Sep 2002).

- by Terri Paddock

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