Due to the lingering confusion between Arthur Miller's
All My Sons and TV's
My Three Sons, we present this primer:
All My Sons concerns Joe Keller, a wartime industrialist who betrays his business partner after defective components kill 21 pilots. In grief and shame, his son commits suicide.
My Three Sons is the story of engineer and widower Steve Douglas (Fred MacMurray) who entrusts the raising of his three sons to their creepy Uncle Charley. Although the oldest son disappears without explanation during the 1965-66 season, the narrative doesn't overtly suggest suicide. But let's just go ahead and assume that he killed himself, because
life is dark, man. Now you're ready for the performance of the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre's
All My Sons, opening tonight at 7:30 and running through December 4 at the MET (3614 Main, 816-569-3226). Tickets cost $15-$25. For more information, see
metkc.org.
— Chris Packham