Will and Jada Pinkett Smith to star in STREETCAR?? — Page 3

Munk - do you know when that picture of Ms. Newton was taken? She'll be 38 in November, and if that pic is recent, she looks incredible!

I remember seeing her for the first time in INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE. I was already squirming in my seat, and then she had her brief scene, and I almost stopped breathing - she was so powerful!

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I think a white Stanley cast opposite a black Stella and Blanche would be great. I'd love to see that. That's more interesting than an all-black production, but at the same time, there's some great black actors who should get a crack at Stanley, Will Smith is not one of them.

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Try as I might, I can't think of anyone better suited to playing Stanley in an all-black version of Streetcar, than Denzel. One of the big problems for anyone playing Stanley, is that the spectre of Brando is always there (I saw an interview with John C. Reily after he played Stanley, as poor Reily was exasperated at the fact that nobody let him forget the "real Stanley" was Marlon Brando). Denzel is one of the few stars who is nearly as iconic as Brando, and has the sheer masculinty, sexuality, presence and acting chops to take Stanely out of Brando's shadow, in the same way some people believe Cate Blanchett has done a bit to reclaim Blanche from Vivien Leigh.

And of course, as many have noted, Viola Davis is perfect for Blanche. It feels sad and predictable since they both just starred in Fences, but maybe it's just a case of Denzel and Viola being the best actors around. Will Smith lacks the incipent danger to be a great Stanley.

Updated On: 7/17/10 at 12:34 PM

Stanley is 25 in the script. Just putting that out there.

I saw a production of Streetcar YEARS ago (maybe mid 90s) with Sabrina Labeouf (aka Sondra from the Cosby Show) and I believe she was Stella opposite a white Stanley and she did a pretty good job from what I remember... the woman playing Blanche was also black

There are definitely plans for an all black STREETCAR (I'm with those that say its a shame we just didn't get the Blanchett production transferred) but Will and Jada are frankly too smart to ever commit to something like this - neither has a theatre background and they would be the first to tell you that they would be in over their heads making their Broadway debut in this.

Williams was supportive of multi-ethinic and all black productions of his works while he was alive, so we can't really argue that doing these productions goes against his intentions.

I understand the desire to do his works with all black casts - besides the fact that the works are frequently revived and are classic plays at this point (and therefore open to non traditional reimaginings) - Williams' stories, with their heightened sexuality and melodramatic story lines are particularly appealing to the black culture, which traditionally has supported artistic works (like Tyler Perry and black gospel musicals) that tend to take on soap opera like proportions.

An all black STREETCAR can definitely be justified - but an all black FOLLIES to me is a dumb idea.

Though too old now, Laurence Fishburne would have made a pretty amazing Stanley (at least IMO).

True dat.

A quote from A Tuna Christmas by character Joe Bob Lipsey, the director of the Tuna Little Theatre:

"I haven't had this many problems since that all white production of A Raisin in the Sun".

I think I'll pass on the Smith version of Streetcar and hold out for the Tom Cruise and Katy version of Raisin.