A Streetcar Named Desire

 

                                                            Katherine Powell as Blanche

A Streetcar Named Desire is appearing on the Arden’s F. Otto Haas Mainstage after a break of almost two years, Originally slated for a March 2020 opening, this Tennessee Williams classic had only one performance before Covid 19 forced the theatre to shut down. It is back again with all its brilliance. Scenic Designer Paige Hathaway has transformed the stage into a  a small apartment snuggled in the streets of the French Quarter of New Orleans. Daniel Ison provides the powerful original music and Sound Design which, along the with the lighting change  provided by  Lighting Designer Ann G. Wrightson, signals the end of each scene. Exceptional costume changes are provided by Costume Designer Olivera Gajic. Katherine Powell is phenomenal as Blanche DuBois, a woman who .struggles to hold onto dreams of the past and ignore the realities of the present. Emilie Krause gives a credible performance as her younger sister Stella, as does Akeem  Davis as her love interest, Mitch. Matteo Scammell, Stella’s husband Stanley, gives an excellent performance as the man you grow to hate. Overall, it is Blanche who steals the show from her very haughty entrance in the first act  to her sad downfall at the end of Act 2. The glimpse Katherine Powell shows us of a woman’s total emotional collapse is heartbreaking. Tickets for A Streetcar Named Desire are available for purchase online at ardentheatre.org  A digital version will be available to stream February 14-27. Visit ardentheatre.org for details.