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Streetcar a strong production
BAILA LAZARUS
Jan. 28, 2005
A cast of strong actors, a beautiful set and the potent words of
Tennessee Williams combine to make A Streetcar Named Desire
one of the best theatrical performances in recent years at the Norman
Rothstein Theatre.
Gina Chiarelli is fragile and tragic as the touched Blanche Dubois,
whose sorrow-filled past has made her desperate for love and attention.
Lucia Frangione plays Blanche's conflicted sister, Stella Kowalski,
who is torn between believing her husband and trusting her sister.
And Craig Erickson is Stanley Kowalski, Stella's violent, feral
husband. Though Erickson fits the part of Stanley physically, what's
missing is the seething anger and brutality that the audience should
feel simmering just under his skin. At the opening of the play,
he seems far too cheery and it seems incongruous with the symbol
of brute strength one would expect. Though this improves as the
play progresses, he still comes across as someone who is trying
to be a tough guy, rather than someone who embodies toughness naturally.
Another problem with the play is its length. Director Jeremy Tow's
understanding and love for Streetcar is evident in this adaptation
but, like a writer who considers all his words sacred and finds
cutting his work painful, so it seems that Tow's in love with the
minutiae of this production, leaving the play in desperate need
of tightening. The first act, which runs an extremely uncomfortable
hour and 45 minutes, could have and should have been shortened to
an hour and a half. By the end of the second act, the audience is
desperately waiting for the "kindness of strangers" line
signalling the end of the play.
Overall, though, the production was excellent. Get your tickets
before it's gone. Streetcar runs at the Jewish Community
Centre of Greater Vancouver until Jan. 30. Call 604-257-5111 for
information.
Baila Lazarus is a freelance writer, illustrator and photographer
living in Vancouver.
This review can be found at the Jewish Independent website
at www.jewishindependent.ca/archives/Jan05/archives05Jan28-03.html
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