A View from the Bridge, Wyndham Theatre

In his first time directing in the UK Ivo Van Hove dazzled audiences and critics alike with a stripped back production of A View from the Bridge , widely recognised as one of Arthur Miller's greatest plays along with Death of a Salesman , All My Sons and The Crucible.
The story
This verse drama is set in an Italian American neighbourhood near Brooklyn Bridge in 1950s New York, where longshoreman Eddie welcomes his wife’s Sicilian cousins into his family. However, as is so often the case in Miller plays, Eddie is hiding a secret, one that eventually threatens to rip the family apart. But the iconic Brooklyn backdrop is stopped away in this powerful production to create a timeless anonymity that is as evocative of Greek tragedy as it is reminiscent of contemporary frustrations. Perhaps the most daring element of Van Hove's production is the choice to cut Miller's detailed and prosaic stage directions (typically as detailed and nuanced as the dialogue itself)
In the 20th century, Miller translated the classic genre of tragedy by focusing on the common American man, with Eddie emerging as a typical tragic figure. Another element that A View from the Bridge shares with several of Miller’s other plays is its critique of the American Dream, which in this case has illegally lured the Sicilian cousins to what they believe to be the land of freedom – but freedom is never quite that simple. 
Actor Mark Strong
Film and stage actor Mark Strong will reprise his starring role as Eddie. A household name thanks to blockbuster films including The Imitation Game and Tinker Tailor Solider Spy, he has as history of playing the villain, with just enough charm and vulnerability to win the sympathy. Fittingly, then Strong shone as Miller's tragic hero, winning critical acclaim for a multilayered and captivating performance.
An unmissable show
As expected from the ever avant grade Van Hove, there's an edge of innovation that sharpens this well-know classic. The acclaimed director, who is well known across Europe and in New York, is recognised for his distinctive and often ground-breaking new stagings of classics. His work has been seen in the UK before, making a splash at the Barbican with his Roman Tragedies and the Antonioni Project , but the glowing success of A View From The Bridge cemented him as an international star. If you missed out on the Young Vic premiere, book fast for this West End Transfer. The critical and audience praise for A View From the Bridge has been cemented in the 2015 Olivier Award nominations. The show has received a whopping seven nominations: Best Revival, Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Phoebe Fox), Best Lighting Design, Best Sound Design, Best Set Design, Best Actor (Mark Strong), Best Director (Ivo Van Hove).