Death of a Salesman - an Interview with Director Alison Cahill

During the last week of rehearsals for Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, we caught up with Director Alison Cahill and asked what we as a modern audience can learn from this classic American tragedy.

Through the last 24 hours of Willy Loman's life, Arthur Miller comments on the consumerism and the urbanisation of America in the 20th century, exploring the themes of identity, illusion, betrayal, and ultimately the pursuit of the seemingly attainable American Dream.

"Consumerism, extensive urbanisation and deteriorating mental health are all relevant today."

 Paula Snow as Linda Loman and Phil Astle as Willy Loman

What are the themes of Death of a Salesman?

The general themes of Death of a Salesman are consumerism, the pursuit of the American Dream and extensive urbanisation, which are touched on quite often throughout the play.

Willy has a dream of being the best Salesman that there ever was, and he continually strives towards that. He's spurred on by stories of what a great salesman his father was. But he never quite achieves it because he’s not actually a very good salesman, but he doesn’t see that in himself. He’s a good carpenter. He has rebuilt his house. He would be very good at running his own construction business, probably, but he doesn’t see that. He sees that as a “sloppy second” kind of career.

You know, he’s never going to achieve the American Dream because he’s not doing what he wants to do. So, he’s always failing. He's never achieving his goals, which drives him to elaborate, to exaggerate how successful he is. How successful his kids are. He takes stories and reimagines them and uses them to promote both himself and his family.

They’ve moved into what was initially a very empty area. Brooklyn. Which we now know is hugely built up, but at one point in America’s history it wasn’t. And he feels closed in and hemmed in. And all these are symptoms of (I think, personally) his deteriorating mental health.

"Willy has a dream of being the best Salesman that there ever was, and he continually strives towards that."

Andy Tomlinson as Ben Loman and Phil Astle as Willy Loman

Why is Death of a Salesman still relevant to today's audiences?

The play was written in 1947, when there probably wasn’t a better understanding of general mental health. Or men’s mental health. But we see now, looking at it from a 21st century point of view, we see the last 24 hours of Willy’s life but actually he’s been struggling for many, many years. He was affected by many things growing up. Lack of parents. His father disappeared. And all of these things have accumulated and spiraled until we reach this point. And there’s a big thing at the moment about men’s mental health and general well-being.

Looking at the play, it could be written today and I don’t think you’d have to change that much at all. You know, consumerism, extensive urbanisation and deteriorating mental health are all relevant today.

I think it gives us an idea that perhaps we should pursue our own dreams, not what other people want us to do. You know, if you have three jobs and you enjoy each job and it gives you a sense of purpose and you can afford to pay your bills, why would you pursue working in an office for £50,000 a year if it’s going to be detrimental to you? So, as far as it is a depressing play, it’s also very thought-provoking.

What drew you to Death of a Salesman as a director?

Arthur Miller drew me to the play. I love Arthur Miller. I’ve been in The Crucible and All My Sons. I’ve never seen this play or A View from a Bridge. But they’re all excellently written plays.

The director and cast (from left to right: Richard Constable, Alison Cahill, Phil Nooney, Paula Snow, Henna McKell, Val Tomlinson, Phil Astle, Gill Williams, Andy Sargent, Jake Collier, James Cutajar, Valentine Besry, Andy Tomlinson)

Death of a Salesman runs at Highbury Theatre from Tuesday 14 - Saturday 25 March 2023 (excluding Sundays and Mondays).

Tickets are available online or from the Theatre Box Office Death of a Salesman – Highbury Theatre Centre

If you, or someone you know, have been affected by the issues raised in Death of a Salesman, help and support is available: Samaritans - Call 116 123 for free.

📸 Photography by Emily White