REVIEW: A Streetcar Named Desire

Haley Johnson and Kurt Brighton star as clashing in-laws in Vintage Theatre Productions' A Streetcar Named Desire. Photo Credit: Ellen Nelson

I'm not sure why playwrights are so driven to write plays depicting the psychological deterioration and pathetic demise of middle aged women, or why audiences continue to flock to them. I prefer plays where people can work through conflict to some kind of peaceful, life-giving resolution, even if it requires the sacrifice of the protagonist.

Nevertheless, this genre of depressing dramas includes some of the most highly respected titles in dramatic literature, and right up at the top is Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire, the sordid tale of an aging, alcoholic floozy in the last stages of a total breakdown, and the loutish brute of a brother-in-law who pushes her over the edge.

Vintage Theatre Productions' outstanding production of Streetcar, which closes tomorrow, has been both an artistic and box office success. Director Craig Bond has assembled a cast of heavy-hitting dramatic actors, placed them in a superbly detailed New Orleans slum setting (designed by Nick Kargel), and let them have at it.

Kurt Brighton is appropriately loud, and physically intimidating at Stanley Kowalski, and Linda Williams does fine work with a politically incorrect role as his pregnant wife Stella, who is sexually aroused whenever he smacks her around or behaves like a spoiled toddler. Their dysfunctional bliss is complicated when Stella's harried and impoverished sister Blanche (Haley Johnson), a disgraced schoolteacher/nyphomaniac/alcoholic, moves in to their one-bedroom apartment with no where else to go.

Stanley and Blanche rub each other the wrong way from the beginning, while Stella tries to keep the peace. He's ignorant yet practical, she's cultured and a dreamer. When Blanche tries to romance Stanley's bowling buddy Mitch (Patrick Collins), a showdown is inevitable, and in Tennesee Williams' cold, cruel world, the weak never prevail.

Vintage Theatre's production hits all the right notes, though an argument could be made that Johnson's Blanche has such force of will and physical vitality, she might be able to go toe to toe with Stanley, at least for a few rounds before succumbing. In this production we see two emotionally damaged titans butting heads. How much more pathetic the play is when Blanche is presented as frail, fragile, sickly, dissipated and spent. Then, her feeble efforts to save herself are all the more devastating, and Stanley's cruelty is all the more reprehensible.

But that's just a matter of taste. There's nothing whatsoever wrong with this production or its cast, as its popularity attests. It may be too late for you to witness this fine production, but check out the Vintage Theatre's upcoming shows. This is a quality company doing outstanding work, and deserves to be supported.

A Streetcar Named Desire plays at the Vintage Theatre through September 21, 2008. Call 303-839-1361 or visit www.vintagetheatre.com.