Review: A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh
A Streetcar Named Desire, performed as part of Pitlochry Festival Theatres’ summer season in 2023, has now been adapted for the Lyceum stage for a limited run.
The classic, originally written by Tenessee Williams in 1947, is a story retold time and time again. When tainted southern belle Blanche Dubois moves in with her sister Stella and her husband Stanley in a run-down neighbourhood in New Orleans, tensions rise and truths are exposed, leading to tragic consequences for Blanche. This production certainly has moments of greatness; with a superb cast, striking technical elements, and excellent vision. At the helm of the production is director Elizabeth Newman, whose clear vision highlights Williams’ themes of dependency, power, and desire to the max.
As the audience enters, they are transported to New Orleans, with the set showcasing the intimate world we’re about to impose on, and jazz music serenading the space. Those who have read the play will know how descriptive and specific Williams is with the stage directions and setting he is creating. Set and costume designer Emily James does exceptionally well in building this hostile world. The set [literally] spins on a vinyl disc, providing an epic metaphor for how fragile their environment is. The world on stage is compact, only showing Stanley and Stella’s apartment, and a bench and fountain creating an outdoor space. At the centre is a spiral staircase, leading to the upstairs apartment of landlords Eunice and Steve. Lighting by Jeanine Byrne and sound by Pippa Murphy complement the vision well, creating an eerie atmosphere overlaying the action on stage.
The cast of nine deliver some brilliant performances, with a standout performance being Kirsty Stuart, as the iconic Blanche DuBois. Stuart has no easy task of bringing the complex character to life. Nevertheless, she captures Dubois’ vulnerable yet manipulative aura, gives depth and conveys the ruinous character arc beautifully. Supporting Stuart is Matthew Trevannion as brute Stanley Kowalski, who dominates and delivers a memorable performance. Nalini Chetty, as Stella, captures the youthful and naïve spirit of the character well, and offers a significant contrast to Stuart’s performance. Finally, Keith Macpherson gives an endearing and lovable performance as Harold Mitchell, making it even more heartbreaking when Mitch and Blanche’s story plays out.
Overall, this is a fabulous production, however, occasionally clarity of the dialogue drops, making some lines sadly inaudible to the audience. Similarly, the pace towards the end of Act One seems to slow, causing a restlessness before the interval. All things considered however, this production of A Streetcar Named Desire successfully creates a male-dominated world where violence is expected and sensitivity gets you nowhere. It’s a show that comes with a high recommendation!
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Catriona Lamb
Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire plays at The Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh until 9 November, with further info below:
https://lyceum.org.uk/events/a-streetcar-named-desire