All My Sons

Let me just say, despite its limitations and oddities, this is why I love broadcast theatre - th chance to see a fabulous production that I would otherwise miss as it is so hard to get tickets and so expensive to go to London for a show. And I really, really, would not have wanted to miss this!

Arthur Miller's play, set over just one afternoon and evening with the Keller family, is a powerful story of hidden truths, loss and pain. Played out in the post WWII environment with a missing son, profiteering and a criminal case of of supplying the USAF with cracked engine blocks causing the deaths of 21 young pilots - "all my sons" as Joe finally admits. Bill Pullman's Joe is beautifully pitched as a brash, but insecure man fearful of the past that will catch up with him. Chris, his son, played by Colin Morgan, is a troubled ex soldier desparate to move on and marry his missing brother's "girl" played beautifully by Jenna Coleman. The cast bring enormous subtlety and credibility to all the parts but the evening belongs to Sally Field as Kate - the mother trying to hold it all together, refusing to believe that her missing son is dead as admitting it will seal the loss, both for her and for Joe, who it will destroy for other reasons too.

This is an amazing poduction, encore broadcasts will be coming - make sure you catch one if you can't get to the Old Vic !