by Joey Guerra
Daily Cougar StaffAt its best, live theater should incorporate all aspects to create something that not only entertains the viewer, but moves them as well. Acting, direction, sound, lighting and all other seemingly "unimportant" tasks are an essential part of the process, resulting in a play that should not only entertain, but grow and change within the respective time period.
Using this same sort of framework, the Alley Theatre has fashioned a bold, impassioned production of Tennessee Williams' masterpiece, A Streetcar Named Desire. Cast and crew unite to create a powerful, imaginative and unforgettable piece of art.
The story revolves around one Blanche DuBois (Annalee Jefferies), an aging beauty who escapes her miserable past by visiting her kind, homely sister Stella Kowalski (Alyssa Bresnahan) and her brute of a husband Stanley (Patrick St. Esprit) in New Orleans.
Blanche is hiding from something, hiding behind a genteel, demure attractiveness that fools everyone but Stanley. As Blanche's involvement within the world of Stella and Stanley deepens, Mitch (James Black), Stanley's best friend, becomes smitten with the seemingly sweet woman.
Stanley is increasingly suspicious, unfamiliar and unaccustomed to the refinements and oddities of Blanche. Her grasp of reality weakens within the crudeness of this new world, a world unaware of the romanticism and decadence living in Blanche. And when her past is ruthlessly exposed, Blanche begins a downward spiral with devastating results.
Working from such a brilliant story, director Michael Wilson has created a surreal, otherworldly environment for Williams' characters, much different from the 1951 film version starring Marlon Brando and Vivien Leigh. Scenery and extras are brought to the forefront, adding a dimension to the production that was not initially present.
Wilson also heightens the play's intensity with some brilliant additions in lighting and staging, which serve to make the conclusion all the more profound.
Pivotal moments are literally thrown into the spotlight, and sound effects recalling past tragedies and forgotten memories are an added plus. Wilson has brought Streetcar into the '90s and given it his individual touch without losing any of the play's impact.
Even with such a brash adaptation, the actors are what really must make the play work, and as Blanche, Jefferies is simply astounding.
Her performance is raw energy- searing, unbridled and charged with sexuality. Every line is played to its fullest effect, and Jefferies' performance is one of the very best ever to be witnessed on any of the Alley's stages.
As the more modest Stella, Bresnahan is impressive as well. She has a firm handle on the mannerisms and voice inflections required for the role, making Stella a woman who perhaps merely settled for a life she didn't initially set out for. Hers is a performance of restrained passion, and Bresnahan handles it beautifully.
Black as well deserves mention, giving Mitch the aspect of humanity so necessary for the role. He is a man enraptured by a woman he does not quite understand, and Black conveys this perfectly.
Other company members (Shelley Williams, Jeffery Bean, Bettye Fitzpatrick) are up to par as well, creating a vivid array of supporting characters.
The only slightly weak link in the able cast is Esprit, who takes on the pivotal role of a sexually charged, often brutal man. While Esprit confidently displays the physical attributes necessary for the role, he doesn't emit the required tension and strange attraction so vital to his character. His performance is adequate, but he comes off as a man with a slightly bad temper, nowhere near the calibre of Brando's fine work.
Nevertheless, the setback is minimal, and Streetcar is truly a highlight in the Alley's season. Wilson's vision has been wonderfully realized, from the dramatic lighting by Michael Lincoln to Jeff Cowie's detailed, brilliant version of New Orleans. The audience is transported into the world of these characters, and the end result is an unforgettable evening of theater at its finest.
A Streetcar Named Desire plays at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and Sundays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through April 27 at the Alley Theatre, 615 Texas Ave.
There are also two student matinees at 10 a.m. on April 24 and 25.
Tickets are $16 to $42 and can be purchaed at the Alley Theatre box office. Call 228-8421 or 1-800-259-ALLE for more information.