Today is Sunday, April 22, marking the official opening night performance of A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, starring Two-time Golden Globe Award nominee Blair Underwood and Nicole Ari Parker in a multi-ethnic Broadway revival, at the Broadhurst. Emily Mann directs the drama that began previews April 3.
The cast is led by Underwood as Stanley, Parker as Blanche DuBois and two-time Tony nominee Daphne Rubin-Vega as Stella Kowalski. Also appearing are Carmen de Lavallade as Stanley and Stella's Mexican neighbor, Wood Harris as Blanche's suitor Mitch.
At the risk of sounding unintentionally snobbish, given what I've heard about the distracting impact of general audience decorum, I very much wish I was seeing the opening tonight.
"Indeed, it seems as if Mann and company have deliberately set out to strip the poetry from Williams' themes, characters, and especially his dialogue. The great playwright is shown no kindness here."
"Nicole Ari Parker, Blair Underwood and Daphne Rubin-Vega, the stars of Emily Mann's striking production of "A Streetcar Named Desire," offer no subtle psychological insights into Blanche, Stanley and Stella. But the physical beauty and sexual magnetism they bring to these iconic characters would surely delight Tennessee Williams -- along with auds who might appreciate some kicks with their culture. The only downside to the production coup of looking good (witness the handsome set, gorgeous lighting, nice costumes, and great sounds) is that much of this bold beauty is only skin deep."
I'm really surprised by these reviews. I thought this would be very well received especially since Parker is giving a FIERCE performance on that stage.
with these kind of reviews (especially the NY Times), I don't if Tony will be too generous on nomination morning. Thinking best revival might look like:
Death of a Salesman Wit The Best Man Master Class or Don't Dress for Dinner (depending on how its received)
Bloomberg Businessweek is positive (3 out of 4 stars)
"Grounded in powerhouse performances by Blair Underwood as Stanley Kowalski and Nicole Ari Parker as Blanche DuBois, the latest, mostly black, Broadway revival of “A Streetcar Named Desire” is extraordinarily moving."
I'd call the Times negative, but I wouldn't call it a pan. He actually had one or two things to say that weren't vitriol. And we all know what a real Brantley pan is like: 100% venom.
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joined:6/21/06
Posted: 4/22/12 at 01:15am