Checking the hour

The American Clock
By Arthur Miller
Directed by Kevin Jackson
New Theatre, 542 King St, Newtown
Fridays and Saturdays 8.15 p.m., Sundays 5.30 p.m.
Reviewed by Emlyn Jones

This absorbing production is the result of director Kevin Jackson's eight-year involvement with Arthur Miller's play The American Clock. It is a fast-moving drama of epic proportions revolving around the life of a family during the Great Depression.

A chilling aspect of the play is that it makes one feel it is all going on now.

Elaine Hudson is brilliant as Rose Baum (she played Elizabeth Proctor in last year's Sydney Theatre Company production of Miller's The Crucible). John Grinston as Rose's father and Leigh Rowney as an ultra-smart business man are also outstanding in their roles.

A cast of 16 play the 55 characters. Doubling up is very subtly done and the possibilities of the huge New Theatre stage well exloited.

When asked "Why The American Clock?", Miller replied: "There is a clock turning on every civilisation ... an approaching weakening and death ... what is the hour at the moment?"

From GLW issue 45