Ensemble Theatre presents ‘All My Sons’
Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga is tackling one of Arthur Miller’s most famous plays, “All My Sons,” in two weekends of performances at Midtown Central, 5705 Uptain Road.
Miller is known for his hard-hitting stories and realistic take on the American family. “All My Sons” unabashedly shows the toll that grief, deception and avoidance can take on a family, even more so than in Miller’s other productions.
Set in August 1947, the play is centered around Keller family patriarch Joe, wife Kate and their son, Chris. The boisterous Joe Keller is dealing with the fallout from his business having profited from the war by shipping faulty engine parts, which caused the death of 21 pilots.
Still reeling from the disappearance of their son, Larry, Kate Keller is in a constant battle to stay sane and refuses to give up hope for his safe return. Complications for the Kellers also arise from their former neighbors, George and Ann Deever, the children of Joe Keller’s business partner. Ann Deever is the girlfriend of the missing Keller son, but is now the object of the older Chris Keller’s affection. George, damaged by the war, uses his visit to assert a certain truth about the war and the faulty shipments.
“As a message-based storyteller, I look for plays that have a profound impact on our understanding of our world,” says Artistic Director Garry Lee Posey. “‘All My Sons’ perfectly deals with how one decision can change so many lives. “
“I love the humanity of this show,” says Casey Keelen, producing partner. “There are no bells and whistles to look past, so the audience really gets to know each character, and that connection brings them further into the story.”