A View from the Bridge at the Octagon Theatre Bolton Review
A View from the Bridge
Octagon Theatre, Bolton
15 January to 14 February 2015
Reviewed by Catherine Joyce
The Octagon Theatre is really easy to find, it is right in the centre of Bolton, and sits next to a clean, well lit multi storey carpark. Parking costs just £2 and can be paid for inside the theatre.
Directed by David Thacker, Arthur Miller’s play “A View from the Bridge” tells the story of the lives of Eddie Carbone and his family in the Italian American neighbourhood of Brooklyn in 1950’s America. Eddie, played by Colin Connor, is a hardworking longshoreman working in the docks and lives with his wife Beatrice and his niece. Catherine has lived with her aunt and uncle since the death of her mother and Eddie has brought her up as his own daughter. All is well until two of his wife’s cousins arrive illegally from Italy looking for work. Marco has a wife and children back home and his intention is to earn money to send to them and eventually return home. Rodolpho has other plans, sees no future in Italy and has his sights set on Catherine, much to Eddie’s disapproval. The play explores Eddie’s feelings towards his niece and the swift realisation that his feelings go beyond those of a normal family relationship.
The story of these five characters is narrated by Alfieri, a lawyer working in the community who serves to move the story along and sets the scene. Arthur Miller’s use of a narrator works especially well in this play and the dry, almost emotionless delivery by Patrick Polentti takes you right back to 1950’s America.
Photo credit: Ian Tilton
For this play, the normally octagonal stage has been transformed with an excellent multi-level set depicting the home of the Carbone family and the local neighbourhood. The design of the theatre means that the audience looks down onto the actors and adds to the overall theatre experience.
All the cast gave powerful and at times emotional performances with the American and Italian accents never slipping. Natasha Davidson’s portrayal of Catherine maturing into womanhood and trying to escape the suffocating overprotective uncle was especially well done. The final emotional confrontation between Marco and Eddie was a fitting end and executed perfectly.
A thought provoking, emotional play that is well worth seeing.
Rating: 5/5 
Tickets cost from £10 to £26.50
A View from the Bridge is at the Octagon Theatre in Bolton until 14 February 2015. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 01204 520661.
Octagon Theatre. Howell Croft South, Bolton, BL1 1SB | 01204 520661
