Review: A Streetcar Named Desire at Perth Theatre

Nov 11 2008 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

DURING the 25th anniversary of the death of the celebrated American playwright Tennessee Williams, Perth Theatre stages a splendid production of one of his milestone dramas, A Streetcar Named Desire.

Director Ian Grieve assembles a high quality cast and forward-thinking production team to draw the audience in to the French Quarter of steamy 1940s New Orleans and keep them rooted to their seats while fading Southern belle Blanche Dubois blows in to town with all the destructive force of a hurricane.

Blanche invents an artificial world to hide the ugliness of the world in which she lives. The problem is she expects everyone around her to be part of that delusional world. She rides roughshod over family and strangers, and her unexpected arrival at her sister’s shabby one-bedroom flat threatens to tear apart a loving mixed-class marriage.

Emotions erupt largely due to the fact that Blanche and her brother-in-law, Stanley Kowalski, are from different worlds. While Blanche’s sister, Stella, is able to adapt to her new working-class lifestyle, the overbearing sibling makes it clear she and her sister deserve better, while having no qualms about imposing herself on the Kowalskis. Yet Blanche is sexually attracted to the muscular, macho Kowalski, which adds to the tension within the tiny flat.

Streetcar was first staged in 1947, yet six decades later it retains its impact, although attitudes to the characters may have changed.

Kowalski, for example, is generally viewed as a one-dimensional brutal character, yet a strong performance in the part by Kenny Blyth makes his Perth Theatre audience aware of his good points.

In fact, Kowalski is amazingly tolerant of the vain and utterly selfish Blanche, invading his home, his privacy and his pride. He could have been forgiven for giving Blanche her ticket to ride days into her stay rather than endure her high-handedness all through Stella’s pregnancy.

And although his treatment of Stella is at times unacceptable – often as a result of the Blanche-effect – we often see the tender, loving side to his nature, and in a touching final scene we are left with a sense of optimism that the marriage will survive despite the odds.

This Horsecross production of A Streetcar Named Desire says plenty for the huge depth of locally-based talent, headed of course by Ian and his leading lady, Amanda Beveridge, whose depiction of the infuriating yet troubled and fragile Blanche is hard to fault.

Pitlochry-based Trevor Coe’s magnificent set on an extended stage successfully creates both the hustle and bustle of New Orleans and the intimacy of the Kowalskis’ flat, and Jon Beale’s music score, especially dusky sax riffs, complements Tennessee Williams’ evocative dialogue.

And superb costume designs by Perth’s own Jennifer Melville includes some wonderful dresses fit for a Southern belle.

Suzanne Donaldson puts a perfect pitches on her portrayal of Blanche’s sister, Stella, and Gregor Duncan convinces as the lonely bachelor Mitch.

If there is was one fault to pick on opening night it was the varying success of the actors’ Deep South accents, which at times lost clarity although did not detract from the overall quality of the production. No doubt as the run continues and tongues acclimatise, this minor blip will be resolved.

A Streetcar Named Desire continues until November 22.