ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Where: Angelo Civic Theatre, 1936 Sherwood Way in San Angelo
When: April 10 – 19, performances on Fri. and Sat. at 7 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Tickets: $22 dollars with discount rates available. Buy tickets here.
During dress rehearsals, director Anthony ‘Ani’ Galindo sums up ‘Streetcar’ quite simply:
“I would introduce it as one of the greatest plays ever written — the epitome of what a play should be.”
‘A Streetcar Named Desire,’ first published in 1947, follows the trials and tribulations of a woman named Blanche DuBois, running away from her past life.
On her journey, she moves in with her sister who lives with her husband, Stanley, in the French Quarter of New Orleans.
As she learns about their lives, a drama of lifestyles and inner relationships emerges from the dialogue, now made immortal.
This is the play that brought the talented Tennessee Williams into the spotlight, highlighting a new style of intensely naturalistic dialogue, and elevating the genre of “kitchen sink drama” to the stuff of legend.
Because of that naturalism, the play can pose a real challenge for the actors.
The distinctness of Shakespeare or others may lend themselves more easily to memorization. Williams tries his best to make the dialogue indicative of the time.
“I was telling our actors that there is a cadence to the dialogue, a rhythm to it, like poetry. It’s this blend of naturalism and poetry, it’s very easy for actors to indulge in and stretch out. But it’s fast paced,” Galindo said.
“It’s dense, it’s an actor’s show. I wish I could be in it.”
Tyler Tennell, who plays the infamous Stanley Kowalski (the role that brought a young Marlon Brando into stardom), has some big shoes to fill. But the cast and crew are working to stage a fresh take on this classic.
After all, if you wanted it to be exactly like the movie, you’d probably stay home and watch the movie.
“As soon as I found out I got the role of Stanley I said ‘Well, now I gotta work on my ‘Stella!’” said Tennell.
Tennell spoke about his approach to Kowalski: “You might try and use some things from the movie for foundation, but I try to make it more pitiful – he’s hammered drunk, he realizes he really messes up, that moment of ‘what have I done; I have to fix this.'”
As for memorizing the dense source material, Tennell said “with the realer stuff, sometimes you have a baseline of how this conversation needs to go, but that sometimes the reaction to the other actor takes over, and it can be very different every night.
“It really depends on what the actors are giving each other. The way some things are said can vary depending on the night, it can change the reactions.”
The Joy Of Directing
For Galindo, “Director” is his favorite role to play.
Since taking on leadership of Angelo Civic Theatre, he’s directed ‘The Hounds of Baskerville’ – but said that he was particularly excited to have been chosen to direct ‘Streetcar‘:
“What’s great about this play is it’s so timely,” he explained. “The story of this play happens all the time to people we know, it’s a universal story.
“The plight of women, perhaps a certain kind of woman – the struggles of being a woman in this time period, the 40s; so many of those struggles are still present.
“I love directing; it’s my favorite thing. I love getting the chance to work with a talented group of actors, but especially a play like this – since the first time I read it.
“I’m super thankful I was chosen to direct this play…the gratifying thing is seeing the finished product, and I suppose I get to enjoy it the most.”
Other Notes: Where Does The Name Come From?
The name of the play comes in the first lines of dialogue spoken by Blanche in the play: “They told me to take a streetcar named Desire, transfer to one called Cemeteries and ride six blocks and get off at—Elysian Fields!”
The “Desire” streetcar ran from 1920 to 1948, through the French quarter to Desire Street in the Bywater district, and back up to Canal Street.
Props and Costumes Needed
The Angelo Civic Theatre is recognized as the oldest community theater in Texas, with roots in the local a dramatic society formed here in 1885.
ACT is completely community run and funded and always in need of period props and clothing. Right now, they’re keeping an eye out especially for any leather jackets or poodle skirts for their upcoming production of “Grease: The Musical” — so if you’ve got one growing dusty in the closet, now might be it’s time to shine.
Besides the costumes, any donations of lumber or building materials are always appreciated. Contact the box office during business hours at 325-949-4400, or through their email: info@angelocivictheatre.org.
