Death of Salesman: Livestream
Considering the livestreamed production you saw this weekend, explain at least one thing that stood out to you more clearly or you felt was better communicated or intrepreted in the Brian Dennehy (livesteam) production. If appropriate, compare the livestream portrayl with specific elements of the production we watched in class.
In the livestreamed version of the play a lot more of the dialogue made sense to me. I the movie Willy Lomen yelled and talked to himself a lot so you couldn't understand him a lot and in the play Willy Lomen didn't yell as much on stage and couldn't mutter under his breath because on stage you have to speak clearly so everyone in the audience can understand you. In the movie you could just turn the subtitles on but in a live play you don't have the luxury of having written text in front of you to tell you what they said. In the play it seemed the Willy was more affected by what his family and friends were saying and doing compared to the movie in the movie Willy seemed to be off in his own little world and in the play he seemed to have the real world and his dream world blend together a little bit more.
ReplyDeleteI agree with how the movie and the play differed for Willy's character. In the play Denny's character was definitely more in tune with the things around him. While Dustin's character was off in his own world more.
DeleteI think the dialogue was more understandable as well. I could understand Willy in the play whereas in the movie, it was more difficult. I also agree that Willy was more off in his own world in the movie, and that he seemed more obvious to the world around him. The play portrayed Willy as more realistic and down to earth.
DeleteIn the livestream production I found that Denny's portrayal showed much more of Willy's deterioration throughout the play. Dustin's character was the same with falling into and out of his flashbacks through out the film. His emotions never got out of hand, like someone who is slowly losing their mind . While in Denny's play, he would gradually get more and more immersed in his flashbacks. It wasn't the same throughout the whole play. Denny's character would have major influx in his emotions and how he reacted to certain situation. Dustin's character staying the same, never deteriorating more or less, made the character less real to me.
ReplyDeleteI agree with how Willy in the play seemed to become further and further insane. In the movie Willy seemed to be just a sold line of crazy while in the play his flashbacks progressed as the play went along.
DeleteI also think the Dennehy version more clearly shows Willy's decent into madness. Willy starts out seemingly level-headed and deteriorates as the play progresses. In the Hoffman version, it seems as if Willy is completely lost in the opening scene and he stays the same throughout the play.
DeleteThe ending scene where Willy is contemplating suicide is much clearer in the Brian Dennehy version than the Hoffman version.
ReplyDeleteIn the Hoffman version, I originally got the impression that Willy was daydreaming about his missed opportunity in Alaska and how he wished he went there rather than him contemplating suicide and getting insurance money for Biff. When Willy drove off in the car to crash it, I thought he was simply unhappy with his life as he was struggling to play his bills and he had just gotten fired from his job. I did not realize that he was doing it for insurance money. Also, in the scene in Charley's office Willy's tone makes it sound more like he is just depressed that he is out of a job and that he thinks that he would be worth more dead because of it.
In the Brian Dennehy version, it was clear to me that Willy was thinking about committing suicide for the insurance money. When Willy is talking to Ben near the end of the play, it is clear that Willy is not talking about a business proposition, but rather his life insurance policy. Also, the scene in Charley's office where Willy says he is worth more alive than dead shows Willy's plan to get the insurance money more clearly.