Milwaukee Repertory Theater Presents April 12 - May 8, 2011 Quadracci Powerhouse By Arthur Miller This study guide is researched and designed by the Education Department at Milwaukee Repertory Theater and is intended to prepare you for your visit. It contains information that will deepen your understanding and appreciation of the production. We‘ve also included questions and activities for you to explore before and after our performance of DEATH OF A SALESMAN. INSIDE THIS GUIDE If you would like to schedule a classroom workshop, or if we can help in any other way, Synopsis 2 please contact Who‘s Who 5 Jenny Kostreva at 414-290-5370 or [email protected] Vocabulary 5 Rebecca Witt at 414-290-5393 or About the Author 6 [email protected] First Rehearsal Notes 8 Study Guide Created By The American Dream 10 Rebecca Witt, Education Coordinator Miller‘s Inspiration for Salesman 12 With Contributions From An Interview With Lee E. Ernst, Actor 14 Cindy Moran, Public Relations Director Visiting The Rep 16 and Goodman Theatre Weekday Matinees Edited By April 19, 10:30 am April 27, 1:30 pm Jenny Kostreva, Education Director (Student Matinee only) May 4, 12:00 pm Tamara Hauck, Director of Corporate April 20, 1:30 pm (Rep Immersion Day) and Foundation Relations NOTE: Death of a Salesman contains brief adult language. Page 2 SYNOPSIS *Spoiler Alert: This synopsis contains crucial plot because Biff is well-liked and Bernard is not. points. After Bernard leaves, Willy and Linda discuss how much Willy made from sales. They realize All Costume Renderings were drawn by Rachel that it‘s not quite enough to pay the bills, but Healy, Costume Designer. know that they will get by somehow. Linda Death of a Salesman is a memory play: it takes continues to talk, but Willy‘s memories begin to place in the present and in the past. The action blend together and The Woman enters. We see begins in Brooklyn at the home of Willy Loman, a brief encounter between The Woman and an aging salesman who has just returned from a Willy. We hear snippets of Linda, Bernard and road trip. Willy is having difficulty remembering The Woman laughing until Willy is events and distinguishing the brought back to the present when difference between the present and Happy comes down the stairs. the past. Seeing Willy‘s exhaustion, As Happy checks in on Willy, Charley, Linda, his wife, suggests that he their neighbor comes over to check on request a job in New York rather than Willy. Charley sends Happy back to travel each week to Boston. bed and Charley suggests that he and Biff and Happy, their sons, are Willy play a game of cards. While awoken by Linda and Willy playing cards, Uncle Ben appears to conversing. The scene shifts to them Willy and he relives an old and they discuss their lives and conversation with Ben while whether or not they have been simultaneously talking with Charley. successful. Happy brags that he has Willy becomes confused by the two had many women. Biff wonders why different discussions and accuses Willy is so hard on him. Happy tells Biff Charley of cheating. Charley leaves that many times when Willy talks to and Willy continues to speak with Ben. himself he is usually talking to Biff. Biff We go into a flashback when Willy admits that he isn‘t sure what he Costume introduces Ben to Linda, Biff and wants from life, but believes that Rendering for Happy and they talk about Ben‘s something is out there for him. He Willy Loman. enterprise in Africa. Willy, jealous of his brings up the idea of going to see his brother, tries to show off by sending Biff old boss, Bill Oliver, and asking him for and Happy to a construction site to a loan in order to buy a ranch out West. Happy steal materials to rebuild the deck right in front and Biff overhear Willy talking to himself. The of Ben. Willy asks him to stay for a few days, but boys decide to go to bed and the lights shift to Ben leaves to catch a train. Willy in the kitchen. We come back to the present as Linda As Willy makes a sandwich, he speaks with Biff in interrupts Willy‘s dream. Willy asks Linda about the past and we go back to a time when Biff is his diamond watch-fob and she tells him that he getting ready for a football game. Willy tells Biff pawned it many years before to put Biff through and Happy about his trips as Bernard, their a radio correspondence course. Willy decides neighbor‘s son, comes in. Bernard is a meek and to go take a walk and leaves the kitchen. Biff mild young boy with his mind constantly on and Happy come down the stairs and ask Linda school. Bernard tells Willy that Biff is failing math what is going on. Linda tells them not to worry and will not graduate unless his scores improve. too much, but also say that it would be good for Unfortunately, Willy dismisses this important news Willy if they both settled down. Linda tells them Page 3 that Willy is on straight commission happened, Ben comes to him in and has been borrowing money from another memory. Ben offers Willy a Charley in order to pay the bills. She job in Alaska. Willy wants to do this; also tells them that Willy is suicidal and however, Linda enters and feels that has been keeping a rubber hose it isn‘t the right thing to do. Willy, attached to the water heater. Biff is believing that Biff will be successful appalled by this, but also realizes that enough on his own to support the he may not have been the best son. Lomans, turns down Ben. We transition to another memory of the Willy overhears his wife and sons Lomans getting ready for Biff's last talking and comes back to the football game. While packing up, kitchen. Biff states that people have Charley comes over to see what all been laughing at Willy for years and the hustle and bustle is about, even Willy tells Biff to go back West. Happy though he knows they‘re getting tries to calm the situation and tells ready for the big game. Willy that Biff has a plan to open his Costume own business and to visit his old boss. Rendering for The memory fades into reality as Willy Willy is overjoyed by this initiative and Linda Loman. arrives at Charley‘s office. Bernard is tells Biff how to act during the there visiting Charley before he meeting. They all begin believing that things are leaves for Washington, D.C. While waiting, Willy starting to look up until Biff yells at Willy for and Bernard discuss why Biff has problems treating Linda poorly. Willy and Linda head to committing to a job. Bernard tells Willy that Biff bed to discuss their hopes for Biff‘s future. changed right after high school when he visited Meanwhile, we see Biff remove the rubber hose Willy in Boston. Bernard questions Willy about that Willy has hidden. what happened in Boston and Willy becomes defensive. After Bernard leaves, Willy speaks We begin Act II the next morning with Willy with Charley; he has come back to ask for more preparing to visit his boss, Howard. Willy realizes money to pay the bills. Willy tells Charley that that he is getting old and he wants to get a job Howard fired him and Charley offers Willy a job. selling in New York. Linda tells Willy that Happy Willy again refuses and leaves. and Biff would like him to meet them for dinner at Frank‘s Chophouse at six o‘clock. We then travel to Frank‘s Chophouse We see Willy leave and then enter where Happy is waiting for Willy and Howard‘s office. Howard shows Willy a Biff. While there, he speaks with wire recorder, a new technology that Stanley, a waiter, and flirts with a records sound, and plays various things young woman. Biff joins Happy and for him, including his daughter whistling tells him that Oliver did not remember and his son reciting the capitals of him and that he stole a pen from the states. Willy confronts Howard about office. Before Willy arrives, Happy tries traveling and says that he is not able to persuade Biff to tell Willy that things to do to it anymore. Howard says that went well; however, Biff wants to tell he has no job in New York for Willy. the truth. After Willy arrives, he tells his Willy persists and reminds Howard that sons that he has been fired. Biff tries to he named him and that he was a very tell Willy what happened earlier in the successful salesman when he worked day, but Willy keeps misunderstanding for Howard's father. Howard says that the truth. Biff gets angry with him and things must move forward and fires explains he stole Oliver‘s pen and Willy. didn't meet with him. Willy once again Costume blends the present with the past and As Willy tries to comprehend what has Rendering for remembers the time when Bernard told Biff Loman. Page 4 Linda that Biff had failed math and During this memory, Willy does not would not graduate. Willy remembers remember a conversation with Ben, when Biff came to Boston and as Willy but makes up a new conversation comes to the present again, he leaves instead.