A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
PRIZE-WINNING PLAY PRESENTED AT SOMERSET THEATER AUGUST 19 - 21
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE gives local actors powerhouse showcase
Tennessee Williams' enduring drama, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, will be presented at the Villagers Black Box Theatre in Somerset, August 19 through 21, 2005. An American classic, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE debuted on the Broadway stage in the 1947 Tony Award-winning production, and later came to moviegoers in the 1951 film. Both productions introduced a then unknown Marlon Brando.
Arguably Williams' most well known play, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE is set in the late 1940s New Orleans French Quarter and tells the feverish story of the pathetic mental and emotional demise of a determined, yet fragile, repressed and delicate Southern lady born to a once-wealthy family ofMississippi planters. Her impoverished, tragic downfall is at the hands of savage, brutal forces in modern society.
The play, produced by the New Jersey-based The Ledge Theatre, features a cast of well-known local actors whose "day jobs" are varied and range from editor to medical doctor to physical therapist. The cast includes: Catherine Rowe of New Brunswick as Blanche DuBois, Jonathan Wierzbicki of Flemington as Stanley Kowalski, Sara Peters of New Brunswick as Stella, David Thomas Hampson of Metuchen as Mitch, Cody Dalton of Montclair as Eunice, Rich Klein of Piscataway as Steve, Voltaire Balderrama of South Orange as Pablo, and Tim Regan of Carteret as the young collecter. Phillip Sprayberry of Clifton will direct the production.
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE will be presented at 8 p.m. on August 19 and 20; 2 p.m. on August 21. Admission is $15 standard; $12 senior citizens and students with valid IDs. General Admission tickets may be purchased at the door. For directions, please call the Villagers Theatre Box Office at 732.873.2210 or visit www. villagerstheatre.com.
posted by Catherine Rowe @ 2:36 PM
2 Comments:
COMMENTS FROM FRIENDS:
BRAVISSIMA!
Catherine, congratulations on a flawless performance! You were truly magnificent and I could not have faulted you in any way at any time. And you knew your lines!!!!!!!! And there were so many of 'em!!!
We both enjoyed the show very much -- it was the first time I had ever seen it. Have seen snippets of the movie on occasion, but never on stage. Very powerful and very moving. The cast was really wonderful -- and the whole production was professional. It couldn't have been better.
Well done! It's just sad that you have only three performances after all that work. Oh well, I guess that's show business!
I hope your daughters are able to see their Mum; I know they would be very proud of you.
Congrats again.
CAROLE M.
Only YOU could have played Blanche and you really did. Excellent. When I come back in the next life I want your ability to memorize, retain and have your stamina, not to mention your "good looks". That's not asking for much is it? I always wanted to come back singing like Barbra S, lots of hair and rich but now it's like you.
What a performance!!!! Great!!! Jonathan was good also. Love his hairy chest. Looks like he's good in bed also. Don't quote me.
LINDA G.
Many congratulations for a beautiful and sensitive Blanche. You and Sara were knockouts, and it was a delight to see such a beautifully conceived community theater production. Also, what a joy it was to see such a brilliantly written play. Really, really, really, the language, the plotting, the characters are so far beyond most playwrights, and that aspect added a great deal to my enjoyment.
JON H.
I TRULY enjoyed your interpretation of Blanche yesterday; it was refreshing to see a different take on the character!!! And the interplay between you & Sara was just splendid.
Congratulations on a job very well done.
ESTHER C.
You missed a good one though. Catherine was very convincing as a troubled Southern Bell with a liking for much younger men!!!! Well, there was the crazy imagination / loopy nut house side to the character too!!!
DAVID M.
Now you know after all these years that your performance was outstanding. As I told you "awesome." Sara put it very well in the program "thanks to Catherine for giving so much." I've seen this show several times in different venues. You and Jonathan were superb. Sara also was excellent.
LONA A.
-- it was nice to be reminded of what great theater can be. You did justice to one of the great characters of the 20th century. And another fine ensemble cast! Also, I was very impressed with the set.
JUDITH F.
ANONYMOUS INTERNET COMMENTS:
1) You guys have to take the uhaul and move your buns to Villagers this weekened! YOU CANNOT MISS THIS SHOW. Oh wow! First of all, that Catherine, her Blanche is just incredible ok? And the guy that played Stanley, oh my Lord! Help me! The Stella was a great counterbalance and David Hampson, who I've only seen in musicals, held his own. Even the smaller parts, Eunice I think stole the show. And Voltaire has no hair! Oh my! I'm still dreaming about this show.
2) WOW (which upside down spells "MOM"). That's all I can say about this production. It's a freakin shame that it was only one weekend. For those of you who missed out, you REALLY missed out!
The set was perfect, the chemistry between all of the actors was intense, and the talent was unbelievable. Catherine and Sara brought me to tears at the end of the show. I got goosebumps throughout the entire show. So, kudos to the entire cast and crew for a show that far exceeded community theater performances!!!
3) Yesterday I had the pleasure of seeing Streetcar at Villagers Black Box. It is truly sad that this production could not have had a longer run. My compliments to Catherine Rowe for a beautifully delivered and nuanced performance of Blanche. From the minute she came on stage, I never saw Catherine, only Blanche. Her sister Stella, played by Sara Peters, was well done and touched my heart. And Stanley, Jonathan Wierzbicki, was the appropriate “beast” with more warmth towards his wife from time to time than I remembered. David Thomas Hampson made a particularly fine Mitch, his disappointment so palpable. I also enjoyed the upstairs couple and how they and the other cast members were used to transition from scene to scene. Very effective.
The set for Streetcar requires so many playing areas and this set was superbly designed and executed although I could fine no one in the program to give credit to. Very special kudos to Phillip Sprayberry for his fine direction. The blocking flowed so well and all areas were used so cleverly. All in all it was a thrilling 3 hours and I am sorry it’s over.
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