Now THIS Is A Production Of STREETCAR To Get Excited About!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 9:41am

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/152040-A-Streetcar-Named-Desire-Starring-Jessica-Hecht-and-Sam-Rockwell-Arrives-at-Williamstown-June-22

I'd give anything to be able to see this production!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 9:54am

I can't imagine Jessica Hect or Sam Rockewell in those roles at all. But that might be have the fun - both are gifted performers so perhaps they'll bring something new and unexpected to the piece.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 9:56am

This is fantastic- Sam Rockwell is so talented. I hope he has more luck with this production that he did being underused in 'Spokane.' I'm for sure heading to this one!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 9:57am

I think Jessica Hecht is such an incredible actress that even though she doesn't initially scream Blanche to me, I just know she'll be remarkable in it.

[AC126748]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 9:58am

Really, MB? I think they both seem well-cast, particularly Rockwell. And I'm convinced Hecht can do anything.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 10:00am

I'm so upset I'm down south for the next few weeks and not able to see this!!!!!

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 10:05am

I actually think Jessica Hecht is a naturally for Blanche. It's Rockwell I don't really see in the part. Maybe he would surprise me, but physically he doesn't scream Stanley to me.

[dreaming]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 10:06am

I love Rockwell-he's going to be a fabulous Stanley. He's got an animal-like quality onstage (I've seen him before in other productions at Williamstown-he's very good). I think he'll really be great. Wishing I could get up there to see this.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 10:45am

I think Hecht is more a natural fit for something like Alma in SUMMER AND SMOKE. I suppose I imagine Blanche being a bit more alluring and other worldy (I'd say Cate Blanchett physically is perhaps the most ideal actress in recent times in fitting the description of Blanche as Williams wrote her). Hecht is so earthy and maternal. But as others have said, she is a very fine actress and I'm sure will give a richly realized performance.

The Blanche I wish I'd seen (and really can't imagine) was Frances McDormand.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 10:52am

MB, Frances played Stella in that production. Blanche was Blythe Danner.
Updated On: 6/22/11 at 10:52 AM

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 10:57am

But I believe that she played Blanche sometime in the 90s for the Gate Theatre in Ireland, right?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 10:58am

^That sounds heavenly.

[AC126748]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 11:06am

Yes, she played Blanche at The Gate in 1998.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 11:10am

That's definitely interesting casting. I wish I could have seen it!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 11:12am

Yes, unfortunately most of the reviews said she was miscast as Blanche (not that surprising) but I'm sure it was an interesting exercise and that she was at least fascinating in the part.

[AC126748]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 11:22am

The most miscast Blanche, to my mind, would be Glenn Close. But I think she got positive reviews.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 11:28am

Glenn Close got pretty mixed reviews as Blanche at the RNT as well. I lot of reviews commenting that she was still in 'Norma Desmond' mode. She was apparently a really amazing Stella early in her career though.

I'm not sure if there has ever been an actress who has really successfully played both Stella and Blanche. For roles that are sisters, they really are worlds appart...

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 11:32am

I'm still waiting for Charles Busch and Julie Halston to do the show.

[AC126748]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 11:33am

I think Amy Ryan, who was a brilliant Stella, could also be a spectacular Blanche. Also Essie Davis, who was Stella to Close's Blanche.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 11:41am

Good calls AC1 -- they would probably both be grand as Blanche. I agree about Amy Ryan -- she was not the right Stella for Natasha Richardson's Blanche but she gave a fabulous performance and would probably really be a great Blanche herself.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 11:46am

Not to mention Natasha Richardson (rest her soul) was an absolutely horrible Blanche. Of all the productions I've seen (live and taped) she was by far the very worst, not getting the character AT ALL.

[AC126748]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 12:06pm

I have to agree with you, Jordan. It was a tragically bad performance. She truly misunderstood the character on nearly every level, and she and Reilly (another WTF? bit of casting) had about as much chemistry as Lea DeLaria and Pat Robertson.

[AC126748]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 12:11pm

And I agree with you, MB, that Richardson and Ryan were badly paired. Stella definitely dominated that production. I would have liked to have seen her performance opposite Clarkson.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 12:14pm

She had no understanding what a "southern woman" was and that's the key to playing that part. And I remember all the talk here about Reilly and how "it's non traditional and Stanley doesn't have to be handsome and blah blah blah" and boy were they all wrong. That three hours of watching the two of them try to act and be "sexy" together was excruciating. Until The Philanthropist, that was the show I referred to when talking about how awful the Roundabout had become.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 12:38pm

All I'm going to say is that I profoundly disagree with Jordan and AC on the subject of Natasha Richardson as Blanche.

I thought she was thrilling. If only she had a formidable Stanley opposite her.