National Theatre Live: A Streetcar Named Desire

The Theatre Times:

"Starring Gillian Anderson, Ben Foster and Vanessa Kirby, this 2014 revival of Tennessee Williams's 1947 modern classic A Streetcar Named Desire was a Young Vic production, and its film version is currently presented by National Theatre Live. Anderson had wanted to play the central role of Blanche DuBois for decades, she says, ever since at the age of 16, she learned one of the character's monologues for a competition. So the character has been in her DNA for years — and it shows. Especially when she turns up the heat. Her performance is a scorcher.

Set in the French Quarter of New Orleans, the story shows what happens when the apparently respectable former English teacher Blanche visits her sister, Stella, who is married to Stanley Kowalski, a working-class mechanic. Blanche's fragile psychological state, which she blames on the strains of teaching and the loss of the family's Mississippi plantation home, deteriorates in an environment that she finds degradingly poverty-stricken. In her loneliness, she begins to get involved with Mitch, one of Stanley's friends. At the same time, her relationship with Stella comes under strain because of her contempt for, and fear of, her sister's rather brutal husband. As the lies that she has told about her past life are gradually exposed, Blanche suffers a violent confrontation with Stanley.

Anderson's performance as Blanche is a career-high.

You may also like the following events from Capri Theatre:

• Next Friday, 22nd August, 04:00 pm, It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley in Montgomery
• This month, 29th August, 04:00 pm, Oh, Hi! in Montgomery
• Next month, 4th September, 07:00 pm, Above the Rim in Montgomery

Also check out other Arts events in Montgomery, Theatre events in Montgomery, Workshops in Montgomery.