A Streetcar Named Desire
A play by Tennessee Williams | Directed by Elizabeth Newman
The Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh | 25 October 2024
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tennessee Williams' play A Streetcar Named Desire was first performed on Broadway in 1947.
More than 70 years later and it's still being revived by theatres around the world.
Why?
Because it's a masterpiece.
The tragic story of Blanche DuBois, her brutish brother-in-law Stanley Kowalski and the woman that binds them, Stella - Blanche's younger sister and Stanley's wife - is a tragic exploration of human vulnerability and a shocking, heartbreaking, timeless tale. The classic play has had a magnificent revival here with Pitlochry Festival Theatre's production at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh.
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When fading southern belle Blanche Dubois arrives at the meager apartment of her younger sister Stella and husband Stanley in New Orleans, she does not approve of him nor of their living conditions. Desperate to cling on to her former beauty and respectability, it soon becomes clear that Blanche may have difficulty separating reality from fantasy. Blanche and Stanley take an immediate dislike to one another, and the conflict between them heats up when it is discovered that the family home and fortune has gone. As Blanche attempts to convince her sister to leave her abusive husband, the tension between the three rages with tragic consequences.
Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s 2023 revival of A Streetcar Named Desire has transferred to the Edinburgh Lyceum this October, and as the audience enters the auditorium, first impressions are that Emily James stunning set and Jeanine Byrne's beautiful lighting look perfectly at home on the gorgeous Lyceum stage. Brilliant coppers and vibrant greens surround a focal spiral staircase that leads from the Kowalski's small apartment to a balcony above. The bright, welcoming pre-set is a far cry from the gloomy, black and white hues of the 1951 Academy Award-winning A Streetcar Named Desire film.
For this staged production the Kowalski's cramped rooms sit atop a revolving platform that again sits atop the Lyceum stage. Perhaps those in the first few rows of the Lyceum front stalls may find themselves having to crane their necks a little - the stage floor is undeniably raised higher than usual. The compact set spins throughout the show and permits us insight into all areas of the Kowalski's claustrophobic French Quarter living space.
The design is inspired, and coupled with Elizabeth Newman's expert direction, is one of the highlights of the entire show for me. The action flows from room to room seamlessly as the cast make full use of all areas and all levels of the set. It's skillfully done.
With a jazz infused score and the steady clatter of streetcars in the background, the sound design from Pippa Murphy is another highlight that further adds to the heady, mesmeric atmosphere without ever being intrusive.
The book stays faithful to William's play. The original play does have a different ending to that of the famous Vivien Leigh and Marlon Brando film - and this may catch some audience members off-guard. My personal opinion is that the play ending is far more realistic and impactful. I'm thrilled that this production has gone with it; as dark and tragic as it is. Blanche's iconic line "I've always depended on the kindness of strangers" hits harder here, especially as it is delivered impeccably by the remarkable Kirsty Stuart.
Stuart's Blanche DuBois is sublime. A believable, refined, respectable teacher, and at the same time a struggling, narcissistic, delusional alcoholic. Fragile, vulnerable, heart-wrenching - Stuart's DuBois is all of these and more.
Kirsty Stuart's performance is extraordinary, and it's no wonder she has been award-nominated for her portrayal of this iconic, complex character.
The full cast for this production are great, with Nalini Chetty's Stella, Matthew Trevannion's Stanley and Deidre Davis' Eunice particularly strong. The cast all do a good job with William's poetic prose and the challenge of performing in non-native accents. There were a few occasions however when the dialogue was not as clear as it could have been, and some of the narrative detail was unfortunately lost.
This is an impressive revival of Tennessee William's A Streetcar Named Desire. The creative team have done a magnificent job delivering a fresh, captivating staging of a classic. Act One does run too long at almost 90 minutes, and the pacing suffers before the interval. However Act Two is such a gripping, intense 45 minutes that the production overall lands with poignant, powerful impact.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Streetcar Named Desire is at The Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh from 24 October - 9 November 2024
A Streetcar Named Desire cast & creatives
Creative Team
Writer - Tennessee Williams
Director- Elizabeth Newman
Designer - Emily James
Composer/ Sound Designer - Pippa Murphy
Lighting Designer - Jeanine Byrne
Fight Director - Robin Hellier
Cast
Stella Kowalski - Nalini Chetty
Steve Hubbell - Oliver Cookson
Eunice Hubbell - Deidre Davis
Harold Mitchell - Keith Macpherson
Woman and as cast - Patricia Panther
Pablo Gonzales and as cast - Marc Small
Blanche DuBois - Kirsty Stuart
Stanley Kowalski - Matthew Trevannion
Drunkard/Sailor - Jesse Fox
📸 production photos: Fraser Band
Royal Lyceum Streetcar review. A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams at The Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh 2024. Pitlochry Festival Theatre production - Streetcar. Elizabeth Newman, Kirsty Stuart.
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🎟️ Disclosure: I was invited to review this show and received a complimentary ticket in exchange. Neither the venue nor show has a say in what I write. I'm completely independent and invites have no impact on my analysis or star ratings.
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