Five Reasons To Go See Texas State’s Production of ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’

 By: Brittany Baig

 

A lone light descends on the stage, illuminating Stella as she rocks back and forth waiting for Stanley to return. The room fills with the sound of a faint jazzy tune as the stage comes alive with lights, characters, and the sound of a streetcar passing through.

 

Texas State’s Theater and Dance Department began their season with Michael Costello’s production of Tennessee Williams’ classic “A Streetcar Named Desire” on Tuesday night to a packed house at the Patti Strickel Harrison Theatre. For those teetering with the idea of attending, here are five reasons you should go see ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’.

 

5. The Venue

Patti Strickel Harrison Theatre plays home to “Streetcar” from February 17th to February 22nd. This multi-million dollar theatre is equip with state- of- the- art technology and can seat almost 400 hundred people. The theatre opened its doors back in spring of 2014, and has seen both musicals and dramas grace its’ stage.  Right next to the theater is the Edward Gary Parking Garage which is only a couple minutes walking distance. This beautiful theatre provides a great environment for any playwright’s work to come to life.

 

4. The Attention to Detail.

From the sweet nostalgic jazzy tunes to the rustic wear and tear on the kitchen cabinets, every inch of the stage is used to draw the audience into the world of “Streetcar”. The soft lighting and background street noises transports the audience to the French quarter in New Orleans. The costumes on Stella and her neighbors paint a shabby chic picture making Blanche’s regal and bold outfits all the more out of place, just like Blanche herself.

 

3. May Not Be Suitable for Young Children

For those with children, “Streetcar” may not be an ideal place to introduce younger children to the theatre. Tennessee Williams’ Pulitzer Prize winning play is about power; trying to hold on to it, losing it, gaining it, and how that affects people. Power is obtained and loss both physically and mentally, and it is sometimes messy and ugly. This grit is one of the reason’s the play has remained so popular over many decades with audiences, and director Michael Costello doesn’t shy away from it. There are many shirtless scenes with Stanley, a steamy make out scene, and on stage smoking. These scenes enhance the play’s overall theme and are enjoyable for an older audience.

 

2. A Colorful and Dynamic Supporting Cast

“Streetcar” is a character-driven play that requires a higher level of complexity even from its supporting cast. Texas State senior Ashley Mrozek-Thurow performance as Stella doesn’t allow the audience to write her off as a helpless victim of Stanley’s abuse and Blanche’s neediness; Ms. Mrozek-Thurow shows the character’s complexity in her love/lust for Stanley and her quiet strength as she tries to negotiate and help both Stanley and her sister Blanche. 

 

Texas State senior Mitchell Stan’s performance as Stanley’s best friend Mitch, yes actor and character share the same name, shows depth in a character that can be described as a naïve mama’s boy. Stan plays with Mitch’s struggle to get with Blanche while maintaining himself as a gentleman. The audience sympathizes with Mitch and Stella, recognizing their struggles with controlling love interests.

 

1.   Powerful Performances from the Leads

The minute Stanley, Texas State senior Danezion Mills appears on stage he commands attention. Mills is powerful and intimidating from his physical appearance to his voice, and even in the way he moves around the stage. Every time Mills’ Stanley comes on stage the audience is put in a heightened state as he interacts with the other characters because both the audience and the other characters know that at any moment Stanley can become physical. Mills’ however never lets Stanley become a one-note character; in one of the play’s most iconic scenes Mills’ shows the  audience Stanley’s vulnerability and desperation  as he calls out for Stella and begs for forgiveness.

 

Stanley’s brutality is matched by Blanche’s, Texas State senior Regan Goins, crazy. At the start of the play, Blanche comes off as pretentious and at times even annoying, but as the play goes on and Blanche begins to come undone Goins holds nothing back. She beautifully shows the juxtaposition of a women going over the edge while trying to maintain southern charm. By the end of the play Goins has the audience wrapped around her finger as she exposes the true Blanche Dubois .

 

 

“A Streetcar Named Desire” is running from February 17th to the 22nd with two shows on Saturday and Sunday. For the complete list of show times as well as a place to purchase tickets click here.