On & Off Broadway

Arthur Miller’s ‘The Price’

Review by Elyse Trevers

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As audiences know, Arthur Miller’s “Death of A Salesman” is a masterpiece. Sadly, it doesn’t mean all of his works were of that caliber. However, that doesn’t keep a theatergoer from hoping.

The Price has been revived four times on Broadway since the original 1968 production. Directed by Terry Kinney, this current production has an exciting cast. Mark Ruffalo, in his Broadway debut, plays Victor Franz, a policeman nearing retirement age. The play begins with Victor entering the apartment where his father’s furniture has been stored for the 16 years since his death. He awaits a used furniture salesman, Gregory Solomon (Danny DeVito, also making his Broadway debut).

After Victor’s wealthy father lost all their money in the stock market crash, the family fell apart. Although his brother Walter (Tony Shalhoub) continued with his education and became a successful doctor, Victor dropped out of college to care for his father. Soon afterwards, he joined the police force. He harbors a great deal of resentment, jealousy and anger toward his brother, who continues with his own life while Victor sacrificed his own. The two brothers haven’t seen each other since their father’s death and then, unsurprisingly, Walter shows up at the apartment. The second half of the play is the confrontation between the two brothers.


DeVito provides comic relief and is a bit over-the-top. He goes in and out his Jewish accent and his limp. His jokes and attempts at humor seemed forced, yet the audience laps it up.

Jessica Hecht gives her usual fine performance as Victor’s wife, but is underutilized. Hers is not a well-developed character but seems to be there only to provide background and a sounding board for Victor.

As the central character, Ruffalo is onstage the entire time. In his police uniform, he seems weighed down by his past and the uncertainly of his future. He mutters and mumbles, reminiscent of a young Marlon Brando, sometimes even garbling his words.

Shalhoub is a good, experienced actor and gives his usual polished performance. However, Ruffalo and Shalhoub have no onstage connection. In fact, they almost appear to be working concurrently rather than together.

Maybe the problem isn’t in the performances, but in the play itself. It begins slowly – very slowly – with light focused on individual items of furniture and then, when Victor appears, he slowly walks around and gazes at various items in the room.

The play goes on too long and the end drags on. It’s “reveal” and then “reveal” and then “reveal.” Did Victor really have to leave school to support his father? How much did he really know about his father’s financial situation? Was Walter selfish to want to live his own life?

By the end, after all the history is unraveled, I found that I didn’t care anymore. The audience loved seeing Ruffalo and laughing at DeVito but I really wish the play had been more satisfying.