After the Fall

De: Arthur Miller

Narrado por: Amy Brenneman, Anthony LaPaglia, Amy Pietz, full cast

Miller’s famous autobiographical drama takes place inside the tortured mind of a 40-year-old lawyer. Quentin is haunted by his disastrous affair with a needy sex symbol—a character rumored to be based on Marilyn Monroe, Miller’s second wife.

Recorded before a live audience at the Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles in April 1999.

Directed by Richard Masur

Producing Director: Susan Albert Loewenberg

An L.A. Theatre Works full-cast recording starring:

Amy Aquino as Felice/Elsie

Amy Brenneman as Maggie

Gregory Itzin as Mickey

Anthony LaPaglia as Quentin

Claudette Nevins as Mother

Natalija Nogulich as Holga

Amy Pietz as Louise

Al Ruscio as Father

Raphael Sbarge as Lou

Kenneth Alan Williams as Dan

Radio Producer: Raymond Guarna

Recording Engineer: Ed Cerrato

©1999 Arthur Miller; 1999 L.A. Theatre Works (P)1999 L.A. Theatre Works

I love this

to me this book really connects you with the life of Arthur Miller and Marilyn , I really enjoy it and have listened to it several times.

Great writing and very realistic

A very realistic portrayal of complex human beings and relationship dynamics. Yes, it is a bit misogynistic but that is a sign of the times, not a reflection of Miller’s writing. At least the character that is rumored to be Miller himself (Quentin) is self aware and cognizant of his wrong doings and short comings. I think it is a raw, real and beautiful piece of work.

Stay with it

This play can be a bit confusing at first as it establishes characters and weaves backwards and forwards from the present to the past. It is rewarding if you can stay with it and not be put off early. A play you can listen to a few times without being bored. A great insight into the mind and life of the playwright during his time with Marilyn Monroe.

After the Fall

As Miller intended this when written, I opted to listen to an Audible presentation of the play starring a young Anthony LaPaglia as Quentin and Amy Brenneman as Maggie. Miller exercises his demons in AFTER THE FALL, covering many topics that he considered his fall from grace. This Audible version has a full cast and a live audience and the listener has a better understanding of Miller's torment (its not all about Marilyn): a child trying to live up to his mother's expectations, the Communist hearings when threatened with naming other party members, his perceived failures as a great author and playwright, and his failure as a loyal husband.

I don't think I would've enjoyed reading this. For others interested in this short play, I do recommend finding a live version. Miller was a genius and often rambles on about subjects the ordinary reader, most likely looking for more of Marilyn than they'll get, will not comprehend if you're unfamiliar with Miller's life. It's clear to all that Quentin IS Miller and Maggie is the doomed Marilyn, but Monroe fans needn't get excited about MIller dishing on the entirety of his marriage to MM. It's basically Miller touching on the low points of his success and failures and how he tries to reconcile and excuse himself from fault. Miller rarely spoke of Monroe in real life and it's hard to decipher whether either of these individuals actually loved one another or confused their lust for gain. Either way, AFTER THE FALL is a painful insight into what I can only imagine was the best of times and worst of times for both.

What a bunch of pretentious Crap

The actors were good. They did the best they could with a terrible piece of writing. Maybe it was supposed to be experimental? Abstract? It came across as a bunch of psychobabble.