Streetcar Was...

An industry friend who also attended yesterday afternoon's A Streetcar Named Desire performance at BAM wrote and asked what I thought. "A pretty good first act but a great second act," I replied. "Cate Blanchett is devastating, brilliant, heartbreaking."


"I was very closely attuned to the line readings in the first act. I know Elia Kazan's 1951 film extremely well, and I noticed how each and every line was delivered differently in this production. As if the actors had studied it also and resolved, 'I will say each and every line differently...no exceptions!'

"I didn't care at all for the set, which felt needlessly cramped, claustrophobic. I guess I'm used to the French Quarter flavor of the set in the film. All that stage height and director Liv Ullman decided to keep the atmosphere as small and glum as possible. Joel Edgerton, the muscular Sydney actor who plays Stanley Kowalski, was okay but his voice seemed a little too reedy and downmarket in a rehearsed voice-coach sort of way. (Nobody can top Marlon Brando.) Robin McLeavy's Stella was fine; ditto the Mitch guy."

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on November 29, 2009 at 8:24 PM

comment #1

BurmaShave Author Profile Page says ...

poor Mitch

Posted by BurmaShave Author Profile Page at November 29, 2009 9:48 PM

comment #2

bfm Author Profile Page says ...

I saw the performance also and I agree that Cate was outstandingly good. Almost too good. She blew everyone else off the stage, with the effect of making the play slightly uneven. She's freakishly talented - for about a minute I had that "I'm watching Cate Blanchett" buzz and then I wasn't anymore, she was Blanche and that was that.

Posted by bfm Author Profile Page at November 29, 2009 10:14 PM

comment #3

Savant Author Profile Page says ...

I've been a daily reader of the site for the past 4 years but I can never bring myself to comment... However, I finally had to send a sincere thank you for occasionally taking the time to throw some of your spot on critical analysis towards the theatre world. Your support of last years production of The Seagull and Kristin Scott Thomas was thoroughly welcomed. I'm a theatre grad student (director) stuck in the midwest but I love hearing your occasional theatre reviews. I'm headed to NYC to take in this Streetcar production this Thursday and therefore I was overjoyed to read your brief review. (and you're right, nobody is gonna top Brando as Stanley)

Posted by Savant Author Profile Page at November 29, 2009 10:50 PM

comment #4

bridgeman Author Profile Page says ...

I remember watching a young Cate Blanchett on an Australian TV series in 1994 called "Heartland" and thinking - knowing - that she was going to be a huge star. It's pretty much the only time that's happened for me. I was delighted at how quickly her career took off after that - four years later she did "Elizabeth".

No, I have no idea why I'm writing this. I must just like the sound of my own voice.

Posted by bridgeman Author Profile Page at November 29, 2009 11:12 PM

comment #5

Momus Author Profile Page says ...

Thanks for promoting a THEATRE production, Jeff Wells.

@bfm Re the comment about blowing everyone off stage. Something similar happened with "A Doll's House" at London's Donmar Warehouse, in which Gillian Anderson played Nora this summer. "Freakishly talented" is the phrase I would use as well. And add "insanely beautiful", to refer to both actresses. :)

I hope the always fantastic Cate Blanchett will appear in a play in London. Shakespeare, Albee, Gombrowicz - I ain't picky. ;)

Posted by Momus Author Profile Page at November 30, 2009 3:50 AM

comment #6

Floyd Thursby Author Profile Page says ...

What bfm says about Cate was also true for the Hedda Gabler she did at BAM a few years back. I can vividly remember her performance but nothing about the rest of the cast, which included Hugo Weaving.

Posted by Floyd Thursby Author Profile Page at November 30, 2009 4:52 AM

comment #7

sumo-pop Author Profile Page says ...

Blanchett and Winslet, the two great C/Kates. The best actors working right now--male or female--are those two ladies.

Posted by sumo-pop Author Profile Page at November 30, 2009 7:21 AM

comment #8

Sabina E Author Profile Page says ...

My sister lives in DC. The play was recently performed in DC (with Cate Blanchett). She said she saw them a few weeks ago and said that Blanchett's performance was amazing.

I really wish I could go see this. (I don't live in NYC, for the record)

Posted by Sabina E Author Profile Page at November 30, 2009 7:54 AM

comment #9

Sabina E Author Profile Page says ...

if I'm not mistaken, wasn't Cate Blanchett classically trained and also went to a drama school? She started acting out in theatre before moving onto film and TV.

Posted by Sabina E Author Profile Page at November 30, 2009 8:00 AM

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