The new revival — which also stars Laurie Metcalf, Christopher Abbott and Ben Ahlers — takes cues from playwright Arthur Miller’s handwritten notes. 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