Streetcar Named Desire revival artwork

[Proper Villain]

Posted: 2/21/12 at 2:45pm

http://www.streetcaronbroadway.com

I'm sorry if this topic's already been covered elsewhere (did a search, didn't see anything), but this is some stunning work. The tangy reds and the silhouette, my only reservation is the headshots conspicuously placed in the silhouette.

Lovely.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 2/21/12 at 2:54pm

I'd much prefer just the right side of the screen. No silhouette, no street scene, and certainly no headshots.
Placing Underwood's head in the skirt is preposterous. To call it vulgar would be giving it credit for having an erotic impact which is clearly lacking.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 2/21/12 at 3:03pm

What you guys are attacking is only the artwork for the website (with the inserted headshots Flash animation in the silhouette).

THIS is the actual artwork being used at the theatre, etc:

Posted: 2/21/12 at 3:23pm

We've decided it's vulgar and horrific. Done.

[Kad]

Posted: 2/21/12 at 3:27pm

I actually like idea of the poster. The dress is.. weird, and I think the tagline is god-awful. But the red is eye-catching and appropriate, and the logo design evocative.

But that tagline. Sheesh.

[JimCo]

Posted: 2/21/12 at 3:37pm

Do we need another revival of this play? I loved the revival of CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, because the casting was brilliant. I don't think the casting for this is anywhere near what it should be. Just my opinion. This will be the fourth revival...first with the great Rosemary Harris, then Jessica Lange, then Natasha Richardson, and now this one. Rosemary Harris was brilliant, the other two were okay.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/21/12 at 4:01pm

Well we haven't seen this cast so we have no idea whether this casting is brilliant or not.

As for the design, I kind of like it - it's evocative and I think will also appeal to their core demographic.

[Proper Villain]

Posted: 2/21/12 at 4:08pm

Yea... that tagline is preposterous. They should've gone with "The truth is she never left you".

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 2/21/12 at 4:26pm

Saw it up at the Broadhurst the other night. I absolutely love it.

[tazber]

Posted: 2/21/12 at 4:42pm

I like it a lot. Echoing Kad, the dress is odd but it is definitely eye catching.

I don't think I get what the tag line is supposed to accomplish.

Is it supposed to emphasize that this is an all black production? If so doesn't that seem to reduce it to a gimmick?

With such talent involved in such a seminal American classic it seems an unnecessary focal point.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/21/12 at 9:25pm

I kinda like it as well. But, as everyone seems to think, the tagline is awful and (a silly as this is), almost insulting IMHO.

[Kad]

Posted: 2/22/12 at 1:26am

I didn't think the tag line was emphasizing that it was a non-white cast. But, like you, I have no idea WHAT it's supposed to be saying. That this cast is more attractive than the others? That it's a beautiful production? That it's fierce? I don't know. It may very well be about it having a black and Latino cast. I guess. I don't even know.

With that strange exaggerated dress and the tag line, maybe they'll be wearing couture?

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/22/12 at 4:25am

I assumed they were playing up the attractiveness of the cast (because, you know, Streetcar has never been known to be cast with attractive actors before...)

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 2/22/12 at 4:57am

Love Blanche's Louboutin's...they rock!

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 2/22/12 at 7:28am

"This will be the fourth revival...first with the great Rosemary Harris, then Jessica Lange, then Natasha Richardson, and now this one."

You forgot Blythe Danner did a production with Circle in the Square. The problem with that one was her Stanley was Aidan Quinn. He was so miscast. Blanche describes Stanley as an animal and Aidan was just a cute little puppy.

I have no desire to see this production at all. I wonder if the audience will talk back to the actors like what happened in "Cat On a Hot Tin Roof". Hopefully they will make an announcement that tells the audience they are in a theater and not a church revival.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 2/22/12 at 10:37am

Much better. I'm fine with the silhouette alone.

But that tagline is worthy of a nasty Sondheim editorial.

[spike3]

Posted: 2/22/12 at 10:46am

Yes, that tag line is a sly indication of it being a multi racial cast.

And yes,the audience will probably chat back and forth to the actors and themselves. Dont know as yet if it will be in the same way as the comedy revival of CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF experienced at the same theatre back in 2008. And I shall never know first hand as I have no interest in seeing this production.


But I look forward to reading all about it

The red got my attention, the rest of it? Meh! Updated On: 2/22/12 at 10:46 AM

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 2/22/12 at 11:32am

"Yes, that tag line is a sly indication of it being a multi racial cast."

Some of you have said that, but please support that argument, as I don't see it at all.

And no, the fact that I can't infer any cogent alternative explanation, doesn't persuade me that's the implication.

[Little-Lotte]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 12:00am

I like the artwork, eye-catching yet still rather simplistic. The tagline is appalling and makes absolutely no sense with the context of the content of this show. And as far as casting unattractive people in this in the past; I'd argue that with how many good-looking actors have been cast primarily in the roles of Stanley and Blanche. That fact was why the Richardson revival just didn't work. Stanley needs to ooze sexual magnetism and you just don't get that from John C. Reilly!

Even though this is my favorite play of all time, I'll be skipping this revival. The fact that they didn't transfer the brilliance that was the Blanchett revival (because the cast was Australian) is just a crime.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 9:47am

^Was that really the reason Ullman's fantastic production didn't transfer? In any event, it' a damn shame.

So, hate to bring ethnicity up on any bww thread because it is really asking for it, but is Stanley's last name stilly Kowalsky? Not to mention that his being Polish (Blanche uses a different word), distinguishing him from Stella and Blanche..... hell, the more I think about this, exactly how are they going to deal with this (not to suggest it's insurmountable, or should prevent the play from being done by this cast, but it undeniably creates a challenge).

Updated On: 2/29/12 at 09:47 AM

[egghumor]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 9:53am

I'm thinking the skirt is supposed to be the famous lampshade, no?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 9:59am

A lot of what is being questioned here has been talked about in other threads - but a recap:

The Blanchett production wasn't thwarted from transferring because the cast was Australian. The reason it didn't transfer ultimately was because of scheduling conflicts, but more importantly, the producers of this revival already had the rights for a Broadway revival and weren't interested in stepping aside for that production to come to Broadway instead.

It remains to be seen exactly how the issues of race are going to be handled in this revival, but without directly saying so, Emily Mann in her Press interview yesterday spoke about the revival's concept in a way that is almost identical to the all-black production of STREETCAR that was planned for Off Broadway in 1956 and that was to have included some textual changes by Williams to accommodate the roles being played by actors of color.

Like the concept for that production, this revival is featuring a French-Creole (i.e. light skinned) Blanche and Stella confronted with their own racial prejudices against a dark skinned Stanley (and Mitch)who would in their experience and rearing be socially inferior.

It will be interesting to see if any of those afore mentioned textual changes approved by Williams for the black production that didn't happen will be incorporated into this version.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 10:03am

Very effective. It conveys the mood and atmosphere beautifully.

[Proper Villain]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 10:04am

Also, if you notice in the background of that press day yesterday, the slogan isn't printed on those posters.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 2/29/12 at 1:30pm

Thanks, Michael Bennett, and sorry about retreading the issue. It sounds like a very worthwhile approach.