I must had sat through half a dozen or so productions of Streetcar Named Desire in my time but I have never seen one as honestly brutal as the production we have just seen at Theatr Clwyd tonight.
With an uncensored rape scene, and a raw protracted viewof a florid mental illness it was an exhausting watch which made my sister sigh " I need a lie down in a dark room!" When it was all over.
The final scene when Blache ( an amazing Kelly Gough) crawls out of a stylised bathroom where she was trying desperately to shower her anxiety away literally breaks your heart and when she is finally led away to the asylum as fraught sister Stella ( another fantastic turn by Amber James ) looks on , I am sure there was not a dry eye in the house
Powerful stuff. That's what the best drama should do - disturb your senses and make you remember.
ReplyDeleteIt did that YP BUT I have to admit Stanley had a massive bulge in his underpants and I was on the front row
DeleteIt's been a while since I seen a play.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on
OMG
ReplyDeleteI know the play reasonably well through reading it, couple of radio productions, plus, of course, THAT film, though have never seen it live - one of those that got away! You put a strong case for remedying the omission. Pleased that the experience for you was a rewarding one.
ReplyDeleteBtw: "LITERALLY breaks your heart"? I do hope not. Forgivable though, as your passion for the scene comes through in your choice of expression.
As a fellow pedant, thank you for that. I'm fed up with people saying "I literally died!"
DeleteI write as I write
DeleteDon't worry about it, JayGee. I feel a bit mean and guilty about having pointed it out.
DeleteI've always considered Blanche's showers a purifying ritual but the excellent photo of a subdued but muscular and rising Blanche has caused me to connect her with the Phoenix. Flame, water, ashes then new existence.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a great production. I'm glad y'all were spellbound and mesmerized by the performance. Kudos to the actors and crew of the production company.
ReplyDeleteAll sounds to be pretty hard watching to me John - I think my days of watching stuff like this have probably passed - I like a quiet, untroubled life as much as possible (more's the pity).
ReplyDeleteBloody hell!
ReplyDeleteBlimey, I saw the film years and years ago.
ReplyDeleteSound like a brilliant production but having dealt with mental health problems all too recently in my family I think I'd find it too harrowing.
ReplyDeleteYou say you saw the bulge in the underpants of the actor and you were in the front row. I am surprised you were distracted by this if you were so enthralled by the drama and passion of the play.
ReplyDeleteYou couldn't miss it
DeleteI cry at the film, the play and the script. It's my favourite play. The best Blanche I've seen on stage was Glen Close (with the gorgeous Ian Glen as Stanley). By your write up of last night's production, I would have quite likely drowned in my own tears.
ReplyDelete'Stella.....Stella.......'....ooh that is one fabulous film..x
ReplyDeleteI saw the Marlon Brando film as a child and thought, huh? Also, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof and others of that ilk. Didn't get them. The worst one was Rain People which in later years I found out was F. Coppola's first film. Worst ever.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see that production. I love that play, as I love most of what Mr. Williams wrote.
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