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Oct. 5, 2005 EDITORIAL CONTACT: LISA WOSKE Classic Arthur Miller Play 'The Price' At Cal Poly Oct. 21 SAN LUIS OBISPO -- When speaking of his play, “The Price,” Pulitzer Prize-winner Arthur Miller noted, “Despite my wishes, I could not tamper with something the play and life seemed to be telling me: that we are doomed to perpetuate our illusions because truth was too costly to face” On Friday, October 21 at 8 p.m. in the Spanos Theatre, Cal Poly Arts presents A Noise Within’s production of “The Price,” highlighted by the performance of Len Lesser (“Seinfeld’s” Uncle Leo). The touring production features “…an outstanding ensemble…” (Daily News) and the Los Angeles Times declares “This ‘Price’ is right.” The story takes place in the attic of a New York brownstone, over-stuffed with furniture and memories. Two brothers -- one a retiring police officer, the other a successful surgeon -- struggle to come to terms with the past. Desperate for reconciliation after 20 bitter years but hampered by scarred-over hurt and pride, the brothers grapple with challenges of lives wasted, love destroyed and the unfinished business of the heart. Forgiveness and the power to heal emerge out of the embers of the past and the exploration of different shades of truth in Arthur Miller’s post-war America. “I’ve wanted to play that part for 25 years,” says Len Lesser about the role of feisty antiques dealer, Gregory Solomon – a role for which he earned an Ovation nomination last season. Agreeing that Gregory Solomon is a marvelously written character, Lesser also sees a great deal of himself in the role. “We share the same philosophy of life. I love his crazy sense of humor, his courage. It’s not just a comedic part. Miller wrote a charming, sensitive man.” “Whatever you do, whatever trade-offs you make, there is always a ‘price,’” declares A Noise Within’s co-director Julia Rodriguez Elliott about the underlying theme of the play. Guilt and survival play vital roles in this play as the two estranged brothers try to sift through their father’s old furniture and choices each made long ago. “The brothers’ divergent views about roads taken and not taken parallel the brothers’ differing views of the value of the furnishings about to be sold,” comments Rodriguez. “In standard Miller fashion, the playwright creates timeless characters by weaving intense ethical dilemmas throughout this family drama.” A Noise Within is Los Angeles' acclaimed classical theatre company that has achieved a reputation for presenting first-rate productions of Shakespeare, Moliere, Shaw, Checkov, and classic American playwrights. In 1998, Cal Poly Arts presented a very successful A Noise Within production of Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing." A pre-concert lecture will be held by A Noise Within’s co-director Rodriguez beginning at 7 p.m. in the Philips Recital hall. Tickets for the performance are $28 & $34, with student discounts available, and may be purchased at the Performing Arts Ticket Office, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. To order by phone, call 805/756-2787; to order by fax: 805/756-6088. Order on-line at www.pacslo.org. Sponsored by Bill and Harriette Shaffner. For audio and video samples of Cal Poly Arts events, visit www.calpolyarts.org. - 30 -
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