NT Live: A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE

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Inset Pic- Gillian Anderson as Blanche Dubois. Featured pic- Ben Foster as Stanley Kowalski. Pics by Johan Persson

It is sweltering in this extraordinary powerful, shattering, very intimate performance of A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE by Tennessee Williams. Part of the season at the Young Vic in London , it is screened as part of the ‘NT Live’ series and explodes onto the screen .

Benedict Andrews has updated the production to now, set in present day New Orleans with jumpy blasts of rock music including Jimi Hendrix and Chris Isaac.        

The stage for this production is configured as a combination thrust/in the round space so that the theatregoers can intimately view the action and each other.

This is also helped by the constant use of the revolve which whilst extremely effective is a little dizzying at times.

The ‘fourth wall’ is broken down and we are in Stella and Stanley’s tiny cramped apartment with the crashing screen door, the staircase, the small bathroom and a curtain drawn at times for ineffectual privacy .

There is very effective use of close ups and also shots from above, showing the resolve in action.

The show’s unsettling focus-as it should be- is on the domestic violence that frames Williams’ play.

Ben Foster as Stanley, burly, handsome, with tattoos , smoulders and menaces.  Vanessa Kirby as Stella, torn between her husband and sister, is sensational.

Gillian Anderson as ex school teacher Blanche du Bois,is sensational, giving a searing , emotionally harrowing performance. Blanche is a faded Southern belle of a large Mississippi abode who has lost her home before the action begins and loses her mind by play’s end. We see her brittle, fragile hold on normal life dissolve and disintegrate. .

Anderson shatteringly shows a woman whose options are running out and who is getting ever closer to the end of her tether. Her lies and fantasies of a better life become almost heroic.Her exit at the end is intense and overwhelming, almost unbearable .

Corey Johnson as the concerned, warm hearted gentlemanly Mitch delivers a fine performance.

An American classic of thwarted dreams and explosive sexuality not to be missed .

Running time– just over 3 hours including interval. Allow extra time after to recover!

NT LIVE: A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE is currently screening at selected cinemas.

 http://www.sharmillfilms.com.au/?page_id=2197

DRAMATIS PERSONAE:-

Blanche du Bois –  Gillian Anderson
Eunice Hubbel – Calre Burt
Mexican Woman – Lachele Carl
Steve Branwell – Donaghy
Young Collector – Otto Farrant
Stanley Kowalski – Ben Foster
Doctor – Nicholas Gecks
Pablo – Troy Glasgow
Nirse – Stephanie Jacob
Harold Mitchell ( Mitch ) – Corey Johnson
Stella Kowalski – Vanessa Kirby
Woman – Claire Prempeh

CREATIVES:-

Director – Benedict Andrws
Design – Magda Willi
Costumes – Victoria Behr
Lightging – John Clark
Sound – Paul Arditti
Music – Alex Baranwoski