Literature;
A View from A Bridge.
A view from a bridge was first put into production as a one-act play, written in verse, in 1955. The writer, "Arthur Miller", was born on October 17th, 1915, in New York City. An incisive part of his background that has an important influence on the writing of this play is the fact that both his parents were immigrants into the United States.
The family was fairly wealthy and prospered from the success of his father's clothing manufacturing business. All was well until the ominous Wall Street crash, and as the rest of America's economy faltered, inevitably so did his father's business. Because of this disastrous situation, Miller began work as a warehouse man in an effort to save his fees before he was able to attend Michigan University. While Miller was there he studied economics and history.
As he was at University, Miller took part in a course in playwriting. After so long, this became his primary ambition. He graduated in 1938, and attained experience in journalism and radio scripture as he earned a living.
Perhaps the most influential work he did was during World War Two, when he worked as a shipfitter for two years in the Brooklyn Navy shipyard. It was here that a near majority of the employees were Italian, and Miller became aware, if not "connected" with their family centered concerns. He exploited this experience to later create "A View from A Bridge". He mentioned these dramas in his autobiography - Timebends, which was published in 1987.
Although Miller's first professionally produced play was a fairly ironic failure ("The Man Who Had All The Luck"). However, his following plays, "All My Sons" and "Death of A Salesman" were considerable successes. So it was no surprise when Miller perfectly produced "A View from A Bridge".
The play has its roots in the late 1940's when Miller became interested in the work and lives of New York's Brooklyn harbour. The play stemmed from a story told by a young lawyer friend of Miller's. It was about a man who was a hardworking longshoreman who 'ratted' to the Immigration Bureau on his two relatives, (illegal immigrants) in order to break an engagement between one of the relatives and his niece. This was the birth of a historic play called "A View from A Bridge".
The main theme of this play quite often is about a very powerful emotion - jealousy, and I think this is the message the director is trying to get across. You can see this being portrayed throughout the story, the feelings and the actions that the characters feel and witness.
In my production of this play I would try to make the costumes reflect the financial circumstances of the characters. I would want the fashion of the time period to be incorporated into the clothing along with part of the character personality to be put across through the clothes.
Alfieri, for instance, should wear an outfit (i.e. a suit) to show his wealthy stature. His clothes should vary in style abit to illustrate Alfieri's ageing. This should be so the audience can differentiate between when Alfieri is speaking in the present time and when he speaking in the past.
I would advise Eddie and his family to wear less expensive and more used clothes then Alfieri. This would certify the fact they have little money to spend and I would like to show this through their clothes. Catherine should wear fashionable clothes for the time because she is younger and she will receive more money from her new job and family.
Catherine's fashionable clothes make Eddie feels annoyed and uncomfortable and he becomes angry with Catherine. He feels that she is too young too be wearing such garments and he thinks that Catherine is far too young to be out looking for jobs, that is his excuse for trying to keep her at home.
" I think it's too short, ain't it?" are his first comments on Catherine's skirt then he becomes stubborn and angry about the Catherine working issue, "It's not wonderful...You can't take no job!"
The two cousins who are illegal immigrants should wear scruffy, dark colours to show their poverty. Marco shouldn't change his clothes at all throughout the play but Rodolfo will. This is because he will start to see Catherine and he will need to change into different clothes for the wedding. Rodolfo is also more frivolous with money and this will be shown through ...
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" I think it's too short, ain't it?" are his first comments on Catherine's skirt then he becomes stubborn and angry about the Catherine working issue, "It's not wonderful...You can't take no job!"
The two cousins who are illegal immigrants should wear scruffy, dark colours to show their poverty. Marco shouldn't change his clothes at all throughout the play but Rodolfo will. This is because he will start to see Catherine and he will need to change into different clothes for the wedding. Rodolfo is also more frivolous with money and this will be shown through Rodolfo spending his money on clothes.
The lighting director of this play should have Alfieri in the singular spotlight when he comes on. Everyone around him should be still and silent, as Alfieri is one of the most important characters in the play. His role as narrator is to explain what is going on and briefing the audience what has just happened in the play. Alfieri does this as a man looking back on a memory. This is why he is so vital in the play because his speech at the beginning tells of the people's way of life in Brooklyn. He sets the scene for New York's Brooklyn Harbour and gives the audience an idea of what is to come in the play.
"Heard the same complaint and sat there as powerless as I, and watched it run its bloody course"
When Alfieri makes this statement he is giving an insight to the audience that there is going to be effective amounts of trauma in this play. Alfieri also states how powerless he was and this tells us how Alfieri features in the play and he tries to stop whatever 'bloody course' takes place but to no avail.
The character personalities are important to the play's atmosphere each character brings a different benevolent, yet ferociously intense act to the play and without it I think the play wouldn't work to its astoundingly high potential, as it indeed shows. The characters show through in the way they speak and the actions that each different personality takes.
Eddies character is of the hardworking man whom tries hard to earn the best living for his family. He genuinely wants the to help his family and provide the best care he can.
However, Eddie's personality has a stubborn streak and he doesn't like to admit he is wrong or back down, more so when is dealing with Catherine. He seems to argue and disagree with everything she does or wants. Perhaps this is because Eddie doesn't want to lose her and his feelings towards her become increasingly stronger and more disturbing.
As the play develops Eddies personality goes from the cheerful hardworking man who would do anything for his family to an angry, resentful individual. Eddie's jealousy of Rodolfo and his desire for his niece, whom he can never have, results in Eddie hating Rodolfo and resenting him in having Catherine.
Finally Eddie's character becomes out of control and his personality changes in the final few scenes into a man who is constantly out to cause trouble and prove his point. Although, all along he thought he was doing the best for his family, but he didn't realise or understand his feelings and thoughts for Catherine had finally gone too far and it actually led to his death.
Catherine's personality at the beginning of the play comes across as a happy, ambitious young women bust as the play develops her character becomes more melancholy and as Eddie disagrees with the things Catherine does she becomes more rebellious. She too becomes more stubborn and as the play progresses you see how Catherine starts to grow up, albeit the hardest possible way with tragedy.
"Eddie, I'm not gonna be a baby anymore"
This quote is in one of the scenes at the end as the play builds up to the tragic climax. Here Catherine finally comes to terms with the fact that she has to move on with her life without Eddie's over-protective.
Beatrice's character isn't as obvious as the other characters as she isn't one of the most looked upon characters. However, she is still an important character, Beatrice seems to be the only one apart from Alfieri who sees that tragedy will lie ahead.
She constantly attempts to calm Eddie and make him see the error of his ways but she seems powerless to stop him. She cares about Eddie very much and wants the best for Catherine but she thinks that Catherine must get her independence and away from Eddie as soon as possible.
Beatrice seems to be the main one out of the characters who fully notices Eddies growing desire for Catherine. As this desire grows so does Beatrice's frustration as she realises she can do nothing to prevent the final climax that she is sure is about happen.
Rodolfo and Marco's personalities are almost opposites, although they are both from the same background, their outlook on life differs.
Rodolfo personality is that of any young person nowadays or anytime. He wants a fun exciting life and America he has found it and his love for Catherine. He has a frivolous, light-hearted attitude to life because he has none of the responsibilities Marco does. Rodolfo earns money and spends it, almost instantly on clothes and Catherine, this is one of the excuses Eddie uses to disparage Rodolfo. However, this is one of the things that attract Catherine, and Rodolfo is a genuine person who truly loves Catherine.
Marco is serious, hardworking man who has responsibilities to feed his starving wife and children. Marco is a stronger more reticent man whose main priority is for his family. That is why when Eddie deliberately embarrasses Rodolfo Marco takes it as an offence himself and threatens Eddie subtly. He does this by showing his strength and power to Eddie.
"The chair raised like a weapon over Eddie's head... a glare off warning into a smile of triumph"
Marco here shows Eddie that he shouldn't with either him or his family, Marco still very much believes in Italian justice.
As a director I would look at how the actors/actresses reveal the characters using movement, gesture and voice.
Catherine is a particular important character in the play as it shows how her independence starting to shoe through and her adulthood starting to emerge.
At the beginning of the play Catherine's body language and gestures should be that of a child. This is because she dotes on Eddie and, he is the father figure in her life and she acts like a child around him. She should speak like a child as well, asking for permission and pleading for approval from Eddie and Beatrice her parental guardians.
"I just got it. You like it?" shows how she constantly asks for approval from Eddie for event the clothes she buys for herself.
However, as the two illegal immigrants arrive and she falls in love with Rodolfo. Her body language should be that of any young women who is trying to attract someone. Catherine starts to grow up and her gestures show that she is starting to become more independents and self-sufficient. She starts to go out with Rodolfo and stays out late. Here the actress's body language and voice should become more confident and decisive about what she wants.
When Eddie voices his disapproval and threatens Catherine's independence, wanting her to stay the little child she has grown out off Catherine feels afraid and tense. Her body language and gestures should show her shocked change she takes.
"She goes around shaken' all the time, she can't go to sleep"
This anxious attitude that Catherine starts to show should be shown through the actresses gestures, body language and her voice should be tinged with her troubles.
However, as time goes on Catherine realises she must leave Eddie and start a new life with her fiancée, Rodolfo. When she finally sees what she must do her resolve hardens and she becomes the strong independent individual again. This should be shown in the actresses' gestures, her head should be held high. However, Catherine still loves Eddie and this pleading for approval should still tinge her voice.
The language used throughout the play is very important because it highlights the lack of education, although they aren't lacking in intelligence that the people of Brooklyn New York are brought up with. They speak using slang words with an accent that illustrates their Italian backgrounds. The language used also emphasises the lack of money in the area and the poverty that each community has to live with. This is shown through the lack of correct speech and grammar that the characters in the play use apart from Alfieri who speaks in a more correct form of language. This helps to accentuate the fact that Eddie and his neighbours live in poverty because Alfieri speaks more correctly then him and he has more money and a better education. Miller seems to have almost purposely shown this difference in language to compare the speech to show the difference in lifestyles.
"Listen, I could tell you things bout Louis which you wouldn't wave to him no more." This quote shows the lack of grammar and the amount of slang words used by Eddie which compared to the educated Alfieri shows Eddie up to be unsophisticated and poverty stricken.
"You wouldn't have known it, but something amusing has just happened." Here you can tell Alfieri has had a better education because he uses longer words and more grammatically correct sentences.
Arthur Millers stage directions are clear and specific. This is probably because he wants the feel of the play and the way it is played out to be perfect and how he sees the play develop in his mind. I would keep the stage directions as director because I feel they add to the play and help t to develop fully.
Arthur Miller purposely uses the outside and inside scenes to show how whatever anyone does in Brooklyn New York it will always have some effect on the community that they live in. They have a closely knitted society and it depends on the way each other lives their lives to how you're next door neighbour lives theirs. This is why Miller used clear stage direction specifically stating what should be outside and inside so the audience can get a feel of what life is really like down in the Brooklyn Harbour.
As director I would want the Carbone's living room to emphasise the darkness of the play. I would want the audience to see the poverty and the kind of world these people have to live in. I would like to see the decorations plain, simple and sparse. I want this room to underline the tension and suffering that occurs in the play.
I also want the room to work well so that the characters stand out well in the room. I think the living room set on the video we viewed was an ideal living room for this play.
I realise the lighting is one of the most important technical features. It helps to highlight action, characters and dramatic tension.
I would highlight the moments, for example, when Rodolfo and Eddie are boxing as an action piece. The lighting should be lit the most brightly on the two characters fighting but should still be light enough on the other characters so the audience can see their reactions to what is happening.
When the dramatic moments occur, for example, the tragic ending where Eddie dies or when Alfieri is speaking the lighting should show only these characters. The other characters should be almost faded out and the main characters should be seen in a not overly bright light but enough to see their body language and actions.
A dramatic moment in the play is when Eddie's dislike for Rodolfo finally comes to a head as he reaches for him tries to kiss him.
"Rodolfo flies at him (Eddie) in an attack... Eddie suddenly kisses him"
Here, Eddie is trying to show Rodolfo he's a homosexual, Eddie intends to humiliate Rodolfo in front of Catherine. Eddie is almost insane with jealousy by this time and this dramatic scene provokes a response of revulsion and pity for Eddie. The audience feels his pain as he is losing Catherine because of his own actions even though he doesn't realise what he is doing. He seems to be acting without realising and he doesn't even comprehend these feelings which are controlling him. The audience also feels shock and distaste at the way the play is developing and Eddie is acting.
In this scene I think as director that the focus of lighting should be mainly on the two men fighting. This will show the action but it will also give emphasise to how Catherine is being almost ignored as the two men struggle against each other.
A still moment of the play should be just as Eddie dies. Beatrice throws herself across Eddie and weeps as Catherine kneels nearby crying. The loss of Eddie and the tragic ending is shown as the mourning women and neighbours stand around Eddie's body.
"The lights have gone down leaving him in a glow... dull prayers of the people... keening of the women."
These stage directions fit well for the ending of the play. I would have Eddie's body and Beatrice to be left in a soft glow, as the people surrounding to fade out then slowly the two main characters should fade out too. This is because the audience should feel as if they have just witnessed almost one of Alfieri's memories. I think the audience should feel that as Eddie's body and Beatrice fade out of view so do they and their lives. It gives a final edge of sadness and thoughtfulness especially as Alfieri will come onto the stage in spotlight and give his final speech.
"And yet it is better to settle for half, it must be!"
The video was performed well and was very much like how I envisioned the play. I thought the costumes and the sets were carefully thought out and produced. They highlighted just how much poverty the Carbones lived in. The actors/ actresses acted how I had imagined they would have. The characters and personalities matched how the characters acted in the actual written play that was read.
The way the scenes were performed in the video was accurate and followed the way the play worked in Arthur Miller's original written version. The actors/actresses in the video acted skilfully to produce the right amount of tension throughout the play and this benefited the play as the tension grew and the climatic ending grew nearer.
I think that the video was executed well and I enjoyed it more then reading the play as seeing the play in action adds to the tension and you can see the story unravel much better then you can when reading the play.
I think that 'The View from the Bridge' is a classic story of definite jealousy, anger, betrayal and love that people can understand and sympathize with. It provokes reactions and thoughtfulness out of anyone who sees it and you can't help but empathize with the characters in the play. It is strong speculation that this play will continue to maintain as successful as it is in theatres today. After so many years, no matter what year we live in, this play will find an influence on you anyway it possibly can.
Jack Stamford
