Unlike Philadelphia Story, however, Arthur Miller’s Salesman is not a rarity here, with stagings in recent years starring the likes of Alun Armstrong and Warren Mitchell. The new production at the Lyric, however, comes from Chicago via Broadway where it was garlanded with many Tony Awards.

Brian Dennehy plays Willy Loman, making his West End stage debut. Clare Higgins plays Linda Loman, while Douglas Henshall and Mark Bazely play, respectively, Biff and Happy. Howard Witt is Charley. Also in the cast are Steve Pickering, Allen Hamilton, Jonathan Aris, Samantha Coughlan, Eleanor Howell and Abigail McKern.

The show’s creative team is the same as for the American production. Robert Falls directs, with scenic design by Mark Wendland, costume design by Birgit Rattenborg Wise, lighting by Michael Philippi and music and sound by Richard Woodbury.

In New York the production won five Tony Awards, including Best Revival, Best Direction and Best Actor for Dennehy. Despite being most famous for his film work, Dennehy is an experienced stage actor and followed this performance by winning a second Tony for Long Day's Journey Into Night opposite Vanessa Redgrave, also directed by Falls. A U.S. TV version of Death of a Salesman bagged him a Golden Globe.

The London producers are David Richenthal, Anthony D. Marshall and Charlene Marshall for Delphi Productions.

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