Joe Mantello first envisioned himself directing “Death of a Salesman,” with Nathan Lane as protagonist Willy Loman, 31 years ago. Never mind that Mantello was directing a comedy ― 1995’s “Love! Valour! Compassion!” ― at the time, and Lane, then 39, was too young to play the role convincingly.
“It was just an instinctual moment I had,” Mantello told HuffPost. “I’ve always known Nathan was a consummate actor who could tackle anything, and I love working with him. He creates a relationship with an audience where they feel very protective towards him, which I think is helpful with the part. Over the years, we’ve talked about it, sometimes jokingly, and as time went on, it became more of a possibility. So, basically, here we are.”
Mantello’s production of “Death of a Salesman,” starring Lane, opened on Broadway last week. By all accounts, the reimagining of Arthur Miller’s 1949 tragedy ― chronicling the final days of Willy Loman, a past-his-prime, cash-strapped everyman in deteriorating health and mental acuity ― feels bone-chillingly topical. Lane’s co-stars include Laurie Metcalf as Willy’s tormented wife, Linda, and Christopher Abbott and Ben Ahlers as their adult sons, Biff and Happy.
