Has anyone done Streetcar??
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Topic: Has anyone done Streetcar??
Posted By: nahtod1
Subject: Has anyone done Streetcar??
Date Posted: 6/08/08 at 12:03pm
| Pros and cons? |
Replies:
Posted By: spikesgirl
Date Posted: 6/08/08 at 2:03pm
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Cons are probably the biggest props list I'd seen to date (that was before "The Big Bang"), various set locations and making the show fresh.
Pros - it's well known, the book holds up well, it's considered a classic, so many schools permit it and it's not expensive to get the rights to.
That being said, I'm glad we did it and I hope we never do it again.
Charlie
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Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 6/09/08 at 12:00am
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Yes unfortunately I kept falling a sleep, luckily my off sider would give me a nudge, every time the 'Stand By Cue' was called, otherwise I think I would have slept right thru each time.
Why do all these wombats try & take off wot's his name? When playing the part & only come across as a mumbling bumbling twit, the same as that yo yo in the film. Instead of owning the part & character into the play.
To me it is a complete load of drive, as generic as the Mills & Boon rubbish.
Otherwise it is one of those 'GREAT PLAYS", that one needs to stay home & watch the 'Weakest Link' &/or 'Coronation Street' instead.
 ------------- [western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!} |
Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 6/09/08 at 7:56am
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I have directed two productions of it. The comment from Charlie is spot on target - MISERABLE prop list and the running list is a monster, as well. Also, actors today are very sloppy about memorization and often paraphrase...which cannot be done with Tennessee Williams - the magic is in the poetry of the language. Getting actors to be line perfect is a bigger challenge than it might seem. However, it's a beautiful, beautiful play. It's funny and poignant and raunchy and heart-breaking. I would do another production in a heartbeat. Anybody hiring?  |
Posted By: jaytee060
Date Posted: 6/09/08 at 11:59am
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A truly beautiful show which I have directed twice. If you're theatre has never done this play, I highly encourage you. However, I do agree whole-heartedly with "trisanrobin" about the importance of the language. What makes Williams wonderful is the poetry of his dialogue. To try to paraphrase is a crime.
Also, before you do this show, I think I would be fairly certain that I have actors capable of doing these roles both talent wise as well as physically. The parts of Blanche and Stanley are both quite demanding. ------------- "REMEMBER ME IN LIGHT" |
Posted By: nahtod1
Date Posted: 6/09/08 at 3:38pm
| What do you mean by running time? Scene change or run time is long?? Sorry no sure what you mean? |
Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 6/09/08 at 7:18pm
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me? running list - the prop/set changes that are required during set changes - there's LOTS of things that have to be accomplished in short periods |
Posted By: spikesgirl
Date Posted: 6/10/08 at 9:33am
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Also running time - it seems to me that there were three acts and we ran at about 2:45 for the show. Much longer than our usual fare.
Charlie
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Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 6/14/08 at 1:17am
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Gawd it was that long! No wonder I kept falling a sleep. ------------- [western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!} |
Posted By: jayzehr
Date Posted: 6/14/08 at 11:35pm
Ditto on that. How do most of you handle this when considering plays with such demanding roles? For example, do you get a committment from someone to play a Stanley before you schedule the show which could be many months or longer in advance? Do you have a large enough pool of actors regularly auditioning that you can count on someone capable of playing a part like Stanley just showing up? |