"A Streetcar Named Stella?"
In 1997 I was cast in the role of Mitch in a production of "A Streetcar Named Desire." The local papers gave us outstanding reviews. I happened to run across this review on the Web. There was no by-line, but we were definitely being talked about.
This play was put on at the Unicorn Theater of Hoffman Ave. I found the play to be good. But it could have been a lot better had it been in a better theater. I am not one for small theaters, and believe me this was a small theater. I also didn't have a very comfortable seat. The seats were placed very close together. I felt that every time I moved my feet I was going to kick the lady in front of me. I also had a spring that kept poking me in my behind. I got so annoyed with my seating situation that I had to leave the performance early. A bad theater makes for a bad play experience for me, so I feel that the play could have been better had I had a better theater.
The scene was set in May of 1947 in New Orleans. Being that time of year the humidtity was high. The set gave that feeling of being in a very humid temperate. I could almost feel the humidity myself. The set was set up so that there wasn't any real change in the set. There were two rooms in which the play takes place. One the Kitchen and Dining area and the other the bedroom. The set was set-up to look as though there was a wall knocked down (hypothetically speaking) so you could see inside of the bedroom. The set was nicely done.
Blanche was played by Marlie Avant. I thought that Avant was very convincing. She had a great accent and really new how to act like the proper southern belle. The part of Blanche wasn't very comedic at all. I don't know if that part is meant to be comedic though. Avant to play the part of being a little crazy good though.
Stanley was played by Kent Carlson. Carlson did a good job with his part. He really looked like a good stubborn husband that is determined to get to the bottom of something. He had some comedic lines in his part which he did well also.
Stella was played by Suzanne Schrag. Schrag did an excellent job of being the quiet housewife. She always looked joyed to be with her husband and horrified when something was wrong.
(The following is verbatim and interesting in a surreal kind of subtext-speak. What was going on?)
Loral interfere Stanley's Stanley Loral Stanley Loral Stanley's Stanley Stanley neurotic every time humidity myself. The Stanley something. He Schrag on it been performed.
The costumes were well done also. The women wore dresses that were simple and seemed from the late 40's. The men wore jeans and T-shirts. Stanley was always in a white T-shirt or tank top and the other men were always dressed a little different than him. The props were very realistic. At one point Stanley throws his plate of food and then a glass. The food splattered everywhere it was nicely done.
I suggest seeing this play for the acting and for the set design, but only if you like small theaters. If you are claustrophobic, I suggest waiting till this play moves to a bigger theater to fully enjoy its wonder.
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