Arthur Miller would have celebrated his 100th birthday in October 2015 had he not died in 2005. There was much he could have celebrated—his work remains as popular as ever. A number of his plays in the West End and Broadway are undergoing revivals. Several notable actors and directors involved in these revivals in the West End were asked by BBC News on October 15 why his plays remain fresh. Their responses about his playwriting should help all of us playwrights write great plays. I gleaned 12 characteristics of his writing from these interviews:
HE WRITES ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING HUMAN
WE RECOGNIZE OURSELVES IN HIS CHARACTERS
HE WRITES CREDIBLE CHARACTERS IN ETERNAL SITUATIONS
HE HOLDS UP A MIRROR TO HOW WE BEHAVE
HE MAINTAINS A WORLD THAT IS REALISTIC
HE MAKES TRAGEDIES OUT OF THE LIVES OF ORDINARY PEOPLE
HIS CHARACTERS CAN EITHER COPE IN CRISES OR BUCKLE UNDER THEM– THAT’S A WORLD WE CAN RECOGNIZE
THE SIMPLICITY OF WHAT HE DOES IS MASKED BY THE INCREDIBLY CAREFUL PLOTTING
HE IS A MASTER OF STRUCTURE AND STORYTELLING
HIS WORK HAS A STRONG SENSE OF JUSTICE AND HONESTY
ACTORS WANT TO PLAY HIS CHARACTERS BECAUSE THEY ARE GREAT ROLES, FULL OF COMPLEXITY
HE WAS OPEN TO WHAT THE ACTORS FELT THEY WANTED TO BRING OUT IN
THEIR ROLES
These are a dozen elements of writing great plays. Master even one and you are on your way.
