Overheard at APT II

American Players Theatre's current production of The View from the Bridge. 

On Saturday I saw the opening performance of A View from the Bridge at American Players Theatre. The Arthur Miller classic was astonishing, thanks to stellar performances by Jim DeVita, Colleen Madden, Brian Mani, and the rest of the cast.

In the final moments of the modern tragedy, when the mounting tension of the play finally explodes in a fatal fight, the audience seemed to be holding its breath in unison. Except for the woman sitting behind me, who had already started to weep. Long before the final blow landed on DeVita's flawed hero, Eddie Carbone, she cried softly right through to the end of the play. And I thought, why are you sobbing already? You're ahead of the story. Why are you so devastated now? 

During the curtain call, as I wiped away my own tears,  I turned around to see APT Artistic Director Brenda DeVita holding a kleenex, eyes red and swollen. And it all made sense.